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EXTRACTS 

FliOM TKE 



DIARY, 

MEDITATIONS, AND LETTERS, 

OF 

Mr JOSEPH WILLIAMS, & 

OF KIDDERMINSTER. 

WHO DIED DECEMBER 21. 1755* 
AGED 63. * V ^ v 

\ 



A NEW EDITION. 



To which are now added, 
A NUMBER OF ORIGINAL LETTER; 

TO THE 

LATE REV. MR RANDALL, STIRLING. 



The righteous /hall be in e^erla/ling remembrance* — The me- 
mory ofihejufi is blejfed. — Ke> being dead, yetfpeaketh* 

Pfalm cxii : 6. Prov. x. 7, Hcb. zi. 4, 



I 



PRINTED BY GEO. CAW, LIBBERTGN WYHB, 

TOR OGLE & AIRMAN, PARLIAMENT SQUARE; M. OGLE* 

WILSON-STREET, GLASGOW; AND R. OGLE, 

NO. 5. GREAT TURNSTILE, HOL- 

BORN, LONDON, 

• l80I. 



v 



/ dcf 



m 

% PREFACE. 



THE private papers of Mr Joseph ^Williams 
would have been published long ago, if the 
defires of many of his friends could have been gra- 
tified. Though the Publisher was for many years 
favoured with Mr Williams's intimate friendfhip, 
and well knew that his Diary and Meditations 
were voluminous, yet he had no opportunity of 
pernfing them till twenty-two years after the de- 
ceafe of the excellent writer. His widow would 
never iufier them to go out of her hands, during 
the four years in which Ihe furvived him. And 
after her death, his three daughters, whom Provi- 
dence had placed at a great dil'lance from each o- 
ther, having agreed to enjoy the manuieript hy 
turns, were fo eager to extend their feparate privi- 
lege from year to year, as abibiutely to prevent o- 
thers from (baring with them in their fetisfa&ion. 

Such of Mr Williams's writings as were puhiifh* 
ed in his lifetime, were anonymous* There are 

A z three 



IV PREFACE. 

three poetical compofitions of his in the Gentle- 
man^ Magazine for 1736, under fictitious names, 
which the reader will find in the following pages, 
placed in the order of time to which all thefe Ex- 
tracts are reduced. 

In 1740, Mr Williams publiftied a pamphlet, 
entitled, The Principal Caufes of fame late Divifions 
in Bijfcnting Churches traced to their Origin, in a 
Letter from a Dijfinter in the Country. He fub- 
mitted his rnanufcript to the critical inspection of 
Dr Watts, and made fonne considerable additions 
to it at the ^Doctor's requeft. 

In 1748, came cut his Abridgment of the Rev. 
David Brainerd^s journal among the Indians; with 
X)r Doddridge's Dedication '.of it, T0 the honour dbh 
Society in Scotland for pt op a gating Chriflian Know- 
ledge ; in which thq Doctor reprefents the com- 
piler as " determined to conceal his name." 

I: was certainly the far theft from Mr Williams's 
intention, that his Diary and Meditations mould 
be published afier his death, and with his name. 
His firft copy of them was in ftiorthand, which 
none of his relations were able to read ; but he 
himfelf wrote an abridgment of it in longhand, for 
the ufe, as he exprefsly mentioned, of his children 
and their defendants ; and which is now made 
public at the requeft of his only furviving daugh- 
ter, his numerous grandchildren, and many other 
pf his near relations, 

The title of Extra&s is given to the following 
pages, becaufe it was neceffary to omit many things, 
even in Mr Williams's abridged copy, that either 

related 



PREFACE. v 

related to the private concerns of particular perfons, 
families, and religious focieties, or that were merely 
of a controverfial nature. Indeed, for the greater 
part of the following pages, we are indebted to the 
kindnefs of fome, who had been Mr Williams's 
correfpondents, or who happened to have any of his 
letters or other writings in their pofleifion. 

What is here prefented to the reader, contains a 
comprehenfi ve review of a life devoted to God from 
early to advanced age, from about /even years old, 
to his entrance on his Jixty-fourth year. Almoft 
every year, in fo long a period, afrbrds a diftinct 
date to fome inftruclive or entertaining particulars, 
each of which is placed in the order of time •> as that 
appeared, on the whole, to be the mod eligible ar- 
rangement. By this means a more juft idea of Mr 
Williams's real chara&er may be formed, than 
could have been by a fmieraUfermon^ where flattery 
is fo often introduced, that the limplicity of the 
mod obvious truth is ready to be fufpe&ed. To 
fuch truth, thePublifher apprehended himfelf ftrift- 
ly to adhere, when, immediately returning from 
his friend's grave, he endeavoured, in a difcourfe 
from thefe words of the Apoftle, Be ye followers of 
me 9 even as I alfo am of Chri/l, to hold him up to 
the imitation of furrounding multitudes, as an ex- 
ample of eminent piety, whether we viewed him 
m his own houfe, or in the houfe of God, or in his 
tranfa&ing the affairs of trade, or in his zeal for 
promoting the honour of God and the intereft of 
Chrift in the world. Important as fuch particu- 
lars were, in their peculiar reference to Mr Wil- 
A 3 liams^ 



^* PREFACE. 

Hams, jet the Ptiblifner is well perfuaded, that thefe 
Extracts are much better calculated to fatisfy and 
improve every mind, not excepting thofe who were 
perfonally acquainted with the deceafed, and who 
recollect his genius, learning, and retentive me- 
mory, his various reading, and diiiinguiming fa- 
culty for entertaining and profiting all that con- 
verged with him. 

Here, it is humbly hoped, Chriflians of very dif- 
ferent attainments in the divine life, whether weak 
or ftrong in faith ; whether engaged in painful con- 
flicts with their fpiritual enemies, or triumphing 
over them 5 may fee reafon to conclude, that as in 
water face anfwereth to face, fo the heart of man 
to man. — Here the men of trade and w r orldly bufinefs 
may learn the perfect confidence between the du- 
ties of life and of godlinefs, between their minding 
earth and making fure of heaven, and how abfurd 
and iniquitous it is, to make light of religion, and 
go their ways, in the neglect of it, one to his farm, 
another to his merchandife. They may here per- 
ceive, how rational and fcriptural it is, to acknow- 
ledge God in all their ways, and thereby turn fuc- 
cefs or difappointmeat, profperity or adverfity, in- 
to occaiions of greater neamefs and devotednefs to 
God, more cordial delight in him, and fuller en- 
joyment of him. Here the lovers of learning and 
fcience may trace the labours neceiTary for attaining 
felf-knowledge. Here the proud and pafiionate 
may difcern, that the difficulties of being clothed 
with humility, and of putting, on the incorruptible 
ornament of a metk and quiet fpirit, are not in* 

furmountable>. 



PREFACE. Vll 

furmountable. Here the indolent and ilcthful have 
a convincing proof, that the kingdom of heaven 
fuffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 
Here they who did run well, but were eaiily hin- 
dered, that they mould not obey the truth, are 
taught both the duty and happinefs of being fted- 
faft, unmoveable, and always abounding in the 
work of the Lord, Here doubting and trembling 
fouls, with all their load of perplexity and uneafi- 
nefs concerning their eternal ftate, have before them 
an example of one, who, in fome feafons of his life, 
exactly refembled themfelves ; though, at other 
times, he rejoiced with joy unfpeakable, and full 
of glory. Here parents and heads of families are 
prompted to try themfelves, whether they are ma- 
nifesting their own piety by earneil endeavours to 
form Chriftin their children and fervants, and what 
difinterefled, zealous, and prudent meafures they 
are purfuing for the prefent and everlafting happi- 
nefs of the next generation, that when they them* 
felves die, their fuccefibrs may arife up, and call 
them bleflfed. Even the moil devout and heavenly 
minds will here have the pleafure to fee, what they 
themfelves feel, that Mr Williams never thought 
himfelf already perfect, but was ever reftlefs in his 
deiires and endeavours to love God more ardently, 
to have greater zeal and fuccefs in doing good to 
others, and that he himfelf might win Chrifl and 
be found in him. 

Thefe hiitories of pious reflection, thefe devout 
exercifes of the heart, while they were in manu- 
fcript, were bleffect as the means of beginning piety 

ir> 



Till PREFACE. 

in fome, and of reviving it in others of Mr Wil- 
liams's descendants. May divine grace affift readers 
of every age and character, of every condition and 
relation, fo to improve them, as to be followers of 
him, who through faith and patience inherits the 
promifes. 



B. FAWCETT, 



Kidderminster, 
March i6- 1779. 



CON- 



CONTENTS. 



JilS early piety (in his feventh year) , 

His growth in piety , . . 

His father's death , 

His dread of hypocrijy, • . 

His hope offincerity, . . 

His graces ft rengthened, • . 

His lojfes in trade , 

thoughts on hu eternal ft 'ate , • 

A time officknefs and death, • 

Sicknefs and death improved, • 

Meditation before the Lord's f upper, 

Thoughts on the laft judgment ; . , 

Joy and peace in believing, • . • 

Keeping himfelf from his iniquity, 

How pious inclinations become prevalent, 

thoughts on apparitions, . • . 

*Ihe death oj a child, • • • 

Meditation among the tombs, . • 

Pious friendflnp, • 

A friend's recovery from illnefs, 

Whether God or the world <was his portion, 

Devout retirement from the world, 

God terrible to guilty fouls, . 

Growth in grace, . ^ • 

Family afflictions, . • • 

Inconveniencies on a journey, 

Endeavours to reclaim a diffolute friend, 

New-year' s-day, • • • 



Pag, 

*3 
23 

24 

25 
26 

27 

28 

36 

39 
42 

43 
44 
48 

49 
5i 

53 



5$ 
58 
61 

64 

65 

70 

7* 

• 73 

• 75 
80 

. 82 

- &i 

Unhappy 



X CONTENTS. 

Pag, 
Unhappy temper at the Lord's table, . .86 

Aflate of true contentment, . » . 87 

Youth excited to think of death , . • 8g 

Conjugal love, * . . • 91 

Preparation for death, , . ■ .92 

Committing the fpirit to Chrifl, . . 94 

A profpeB of the new ferufalem, ■ • 97 

A good man fatisfied from himfelf, • • 1 01 

De firing to fee fefus, . . • ,104 

Mercies and thanks, . . • . IC5 

Counfel and comfort to the affiitled, 1 109 

Heavenly mindednefs i • • • • HI 

J.'he wifdom of numbering our days, • 1 12 

Meditation among the tombs, . • .114 

Meditation before the Lord's f upper, • 1 15 

Sanctifying the Lord's day, . • . 117 

Self examination before the Lord's f upper, ■ 120 
Heaven is the Chrifciau's home, . . 121 

Communion with .Gad, . * • 1 23 

Chrifl in us the hope of glory, . » I 25 

Promoting piety in a daughter, . • 127 

Narrow ej cape from death, • • . 129 

Meditation before the Lord's fupper y . 131 

3TA* omnifcience of God, • • • 133 

Self-examination, . » • • 1 35 

Happy temper ttt the Lord's table, . 137 

Prayer reining to the choice of a minifter, 139 

Chr if delivered for our offences, • * 1 4* 

Comfort laid up for future trials, . • 142 

Promoting piety in a fon-in- law, • • J 45 

!T££ doubting Chrifiian comforted, * . 147 

Self examination before the Lord's f upper, 148 

Objections 



CONTENTS. 



Objections to receiving the Lord's f upper, 
Chri/i ivith them that meet in his nar,:c, 
Confirming piety in a daughter, 
Counfel and comfort to the afffliBed, • 
Worldly fuhjlance improved \ 
IThe world eclipfed by a fight of Chrifl, 
Endeavours to reclaim a dijfo lute friend \ 
Saints flnne with borrowed rays. 
Obligations to divine grace, . • 

Chrifl calls his fervants y Friends, . 

Inviting a friend to the Lord's table, 
Rejoicing in a friend's early piety, 
Charity envieth not, . 

A national f aft, .... 

Reflections on autumn and fpring, 
Vijiting, a fnare to piety, . • 

*The doubting Chriflian comforted, 
The happinefs of living by faith, 
Wife children make glad parents, , 

^he inter cejjion of Chrifl, . 

JDefire to do good to fouls, • 

Che rifling ferious imprefjions, 
Boldnefs at the throne of grace, • 

Self abafed, and Chrifl exalted, • 

Sacramental ?neditation, • • 

Sympathy with the affliBed, 
Clearing up a title to heaven, • 

Succefs in praying with a poor man, 
The nominal Chriftian, • . • 

Defiring God above all, . • • 

Setting the Lord always before us, 
God's gift of his Son, % • 



XI 

Pag. 

. 152 

157 

• l S9 

ib. 

• 163 
164 
165 
167 
169 

*73 
174 

ib. 

176 
177 
180 
182 
184 

1B5 
189 
192 

195 
198 

200 

201 

202 

203 

204 

205 

2-8 

Cheerful 



XH CONTENTS* 

Cheerful views of a future flate 9 • 
Promoting piety in youth, . . * 

Lukewarmnefs lamented, . , , 

Inculcating refgnation, . , 

His wife's death, # . 

Profperity in trade, • • . 

7 he religious trade f?nan, • . 

Counfel and comfort to the afflifited 
His fecond marriage, . . 

Sacramental meditation, . 

The importance of the Chriflian miniflry, 
j$n affli&ive ace' dent improved, . 

SanBified affliclions, . • 1 

Sacramental meditation^ • • 

Self examination, . • • 

Than&s at the clofe of the yexir^ • 

The duties of a hujhand, • . 

The duties of a wife, • . . 

Longing defires after God, • • 

Parental anxiety for depa. ted infants, 
The faithful Chriflian minijler, 
Doubtful ways committed to God, 
Promoting piety in a young clergyman, 
Happy temper at the Lord's table, 
Meditation among the tombs, 
His fuperiority to the world, • 

His patience under fevere pains 9 • 

His benefit from Bath waters, * 

His increqfing bodily weaknefs . 

His dying comfort s 3 • . • 

Appendix, . 

# 



EXTRACTS 



FROM THE 



DIART, MEDITATIONS, &c. 



HIS EARLY PIETY. 1699. 

THE firft ferious impreflions I remember to have felt 
upon my mind, were when I was about feven years 
old, occafioned by the death of a boy in another family. 
My father coming into my room, told me who was dead* 
and very feriouily difcourfed to me on the immortality of 
the foul, the certainty of a ftate of rewards and punifli* 
merits, my own mortality, and liablenefs every day to have 
fuch a change pafs on me by cjeath. I was greatly fur- 
priied, and filled with a warm concern for the falvation of 
my foul. It put me on praying with greater earneftnefs 
than common, and I was refolved to do the will of God, 
fo far as I knew it. 

When I was about ten years eld, my father corrected 
me with a juft feverity for telling and perGfting in a deli- 
berate lie. He at length conquered my (tubbornnefs, and 
brought me to confefs the truth. His rebukes, reafonings f 
and expofiulations, wrought on me fuch a fenfe of fliame, 
that his words wounded me deeper than his (tripes, and 
melted me into very tender relentings. " Now, (faid he,) 
* 5 I forgive you, but I cannot promife you that God will 

B " forgive 



j 4 HIS EARLY PIETY. L" 1 "^' 

« forgive you; and if he mould not forgive you, this one 
« finis enough to condemn you to eternal mifery. But 
« this I will do for you, I will pray that God will forgive 
".you; and I charge you to go into your chamber, and 
"pray earneftly to God for pardon." Accord.ngly I 
xvent, and on my bended knees, with a flood of tears, beg. 
£ ed for Chrift's fake the pardon of all my fins, and parti- 
cularly this great fin 1 had juft been guilty of. When I 
had thus fpent almoft a quarter of an hour, I rofe up feme- 
what comforted, and the impreflion abode on my mind 
many days, fo that my prayers were with more fervency 
than ufual, and I was fo afhamed, that I could fcarce look 
at my father, or any of the family. 

It pleafed God to take away by death one of my little 
lifters, when I was in my thirteenth year. My father, af- 
ter morning family-prayer, faid fomething to us fuitable to 
the forrowful and awful occafion, and gave us fome direc- 
tions how to improve the providence. I felt my felf ftrong- 
ly inclined to get into fome place of retirement to meditate 
upon death. It was a remote corner of the ftable, where, 
in the. moft folemn and beft manner I could, I fometimes 
mufed on death, and on my own mortality, and fometimes 
prayed to be made ready to die. My affeftions were 
engaged, and very lively conviaions I had of the vanity of 
the world, and its inefficiency to my real happinefs. An 
intereft in Chrift then appeared to me better than all the 
world, and fome earned defires and breathings after Chrift 
I then experienced. 

After I had been fome time at my father's trade, my 
mind was too much corrupted by the filthy convention 
of the (hop-men. Our minifter coming to fee my father, 
directed his difcoufe to me, taking notice what a comfort 
it was to parents to fee their children take good ways, and 
what a grief of heart itmufi: be to them to fee them difo- 
bedient, and addicted wholly to play. He then gave me 

to 



"his EARLY PIETY*. IJ 

to ur.derftand, that formerly my parents had entertained 
good hopes of me; but now, as I grew older and bigger, 
they juftly expected that I mould grow better, and what 
a fad thing it was I mould grow worfe and worfe. Some 
other gentle reproofs he applied to me, which left flings 
behind them, and wrought kindly on me, and for a while 
brought forth fome good fruits in my heart and life. 

In my fixteenth year, I began to weave in the clothier's 
broad loom with a man who was an early rifer and clofs 
worker, fo that I commonly wrought with him 14, and 
fometimes 15 or 16 hours a- day. This prevented my op- 
portunity for, and fuppreffed my immoderate love to play. 
Often on Lord's days, I had ferious impreffions on my 
mind, which remained with me all the Monday morning. 
But my continual labour in the loom, and the vain difcourfe 
which filled my ears, together with the vanity of my de- 
praved heart, too much wore out all impreffions of ferious 
piety before Monday night, and all the reft of the week 
I was vain enough. I laboured at the loom two years* 
and, before I left it, my convictions were deeper, and my 
refolutions ftronger for ferving God; fo that it grieved me . 
to have no time in the morning for fecret prayer, which 
was partly owing to my fellow-labourer rifing fo early, 
and partly to half of my breakfaft hour being taken up in 
attending on famiiy-prayer. However, my Lord's days 
convictions had fuch an influence on my mind, that, for 
two or three days after, I commonly redeemed time for 
prayer, either from fleep or from meals. Towards the 
latter end of the week, my zeal ufually began to cool, and 
my prayers to be formal and lifelefs, till on the next Lord's 
day my convictions, both of fin and duty, were renewed. 
Thus I went on for many months, keeping my ground, 
but, alas! making flow advances in the work of religion. 

After entering into my eighteenth year, and changing 

my daily employment for that which allowed me more time 

. B 2 for 



36 HIS EARLY PIETY. C 1 /^. 

for religious duties, my convictions of fin, and humiliation 
for it, increafed. I was more enlarged in fecret prayer, 
and fo filled with a fenfe of the greatnefs and majefty of 
God, that frequently I was fcarce confcious to a wander- 
ing thought in that duty. As 1 then worked in a fhop with 
three journeymen, I found their converfation very irkfome 
to me, becaufe I made confcience of my thoughts and 
words. But though I came from prayer to the ihop, re- 
folved not to hearken to their difcourfe, but to keep my 
heart fixed on God and heavenly things all the day; yet, 
after a while, the gaiety of my natural temper would betray 
me, fir ft into free, and by degrees into vain converfation. 
This much retarded my progrefs in piety, and filled me 
with remorfe and grief every evening. At length I pre- 
?ailed with my father to let me work in a chamber by my- 
felf, but was afhamed to tell the reafon. Being thus alone. 
I endeavoured to keep my heart all the day bent on re- 
ligion. To this end I contrived to fet Mafon's Hymns, 
©r forne other devotional book, fo near me, that, with 
little or no- hindrance to my work, I could, by glancing 
my eye upon it, take in a line or two at a time. In this 
manner I committed to memory all Mafon's Hymns, and 
with fuch a devout frame, that I could adopt almoft every 
line in them, even his Song of praife for grace, for de- 
liverance from fpiritual enemies, for anfwers to prayers, and 
for joy in the Holy Ghoft, as the genuioe language of my 
own foul. I found my will fo changed, from what it had 
been, that I entertained a very comfortable hope I was 
renewed in the fpirit of my mind, and frequently I had 
not only peace, but joy in believing. 

About this time, in the year 1710, I was walking in a 
fummer evening in the meadows, and fell into a folemn 
meditation. While I v/as mufing, the fire burned, fo that 
I could not but fpeak with my tongue. I difcourfed to 
myfelf on the fh.ortnefs and uncertainty of life, my own 

mortality* 



HIS EARLY PIETY. 17 

H^ortaiity, and the wide difference between an eternity of 
happinefs and mifery. I had fuch a fenfe of the joys of 
heaven and the pains of hell, as made all the beauties of 
this lower creation to difappear, and all worldly riches and 
honours not worthy to be compared with fecuring my great 
concern, the falvation of my foul. I wondered how men 
cculd fpend all their time in labouring and caring for things 
whfch they mud quickly leave, while they neglected the 
falvation of their fouls. I wondered how people could fo 
generally allow themfelves to think and talk of nothing but 
the trifling affairs of this life. I wondered at myfelf. that 
I mould fpend fo much of my time hitherto to fo little 
purpofe. I wondered at my father, though a good man, 
and my faithful monitor, that he had not warned me oftener, 
and more earneftly, of the danger I was in of perifhing for 
ever. I was glad to find in myfelf fuch a lively fenfe of 
invifible things. In this temper of mind I could almoft 
fay with Elihu, in wifhing for an opportunity to pray, / 
am full of matter, my belly is as new wine that hath no <venf f 
it is ready to bur/} like new bottles. J will fpeah that I may 
be refre/hed. The dufk of the evening, and the folitary 
place I was then in, afforded me a fufficient retreat. Some- 
times kneeling, fometimes proftrate, I there poured out my 
foul before the Lord, and there I received an inward wit* 
nefs, that I was a child of God. I was even ravifhed 
with the love of Chrift. I was in the apoflle's ftrait 
betwixt two, having a defire to depart, and to be with 
Chrift, which I then efteemed far better. I was ready to 
fay with Peter, It is good to be here. And with Jacob* 
This is no other than the houfe of God, and the gate of heaven. 
It left a devout ferenity on my mind, which continued 
many days. 

On Lord's-day morning, Sept. 10. 1710, I awoke in 
a ferious frame, lamenting my many defects and ihortcom- 
ings in duty, and that, after fuch lively convictions, I had 

B 3 macte 



l8 HIS EARLY BIETY. [17IO. 

made fo little progrefs in the religious life. I rofe with a 
refolution, by the grace cf God, to do fomewhat to put 
the grand concern out of doubt, to prevent my returning 
to fin. and to bind myfelf for ever to the Lord. Ac- 
cordingly, I went immediately up into my clofet, and, hav- 
ing folemnly devoted myfelf to God in fecret prayer, I 
wrote down my felf-confecration. *' I folemnly devoted 
r< and dedicated myfelf to him, who is the King of kings, 
H refolving, by his grace, to give a bill of divorce to all 
" manner of fins, and to the utmoft of my power to ft rive 
a * and wreftle with all temptaions to fin, whether from with- 
u out or from within; to avoid (as far as poffible) the fo- 
u ciety of vain gracelefs perfons; to commend myfelf to 
fl God by prayer, at lead twice a-day ; to be careful and 
€l conftantin felf-examinationand meditation, particularly on 
u the love, the tranfcendent love of God in Chrift, and 
tl of Chrift in willingly offering up himfelf a facrifice for 
u poor finners, and in fending the bleffed Spirit, whofe 
6( ftrivings and quickening motions I refolved, by the grace 
61 of God, never to quench. I refolved to watch narrowly 
u againft the wanderings and ftrayings of my heart in any 
** duty; to make the glory of God, and the falvation of my 
u foul, my chief bufinefs and defign.; and to account the 
u affairs of this world but as diverilons to me in my way 
11 heaven-ward." This is the fubftance of what I then 
recorded as my folemn vow, determining from thence- 
forward to call myfelf daily to account for the a&ions of 
the day; and frequently to write -fome remarks thereon. 
This courfe was-of excellent ufe, to keep me clofe to God 
and duty, to prevent fin, and particularly helped me to re- 
deem precious time, for I made confcience of riling early. 
About this time, going with my father a few miles from 
'home, his talk with me was very profitable. He exhort- 
ed me to ferious religion now in my youth, as the ftafon 
when the mind is moft fit to receive good impreffions. He 

cautioned 



HIS EARLY PIETY. 19 

cautioned me not to put off the grand concern to an uncer- 
tain hereafter. He pleaded with me, not only the uncer- 
tainty of life, but the improbability of my turning to God 
in old age, after vicious habits were grown (hong by a long 
continuance in fin. And to affect me the more, he gave 
me the following particulars of his converfation with a gen- 
tleman of his acquaintance. " I was coming home," faid 
he " one evening, not long after I was married, from 

« . in company with this gentleman and h : s 

f 4 fon. It feems they had been fitting fome hours with 
" perfons remarkable for their perfecuting principles, and 
" who had been throwing out fevere reflections againft the 
U Diffenters. Though the old gentleman himfelf never 
M came to meeting, except when he was at London ; yet 
" he had a high efteem for Diffenters, and had courage 
" enough on all occafions ftrenuoufly to vindicate their 
" confcientious character and practice. He now addreffed 
" the company with fome warmth of refentment, and faid 
" to them, Gentlemen, you may be afhamed thus to abufe 
" better men than yourfelves, men far. more confcientious, 
u and who live much better lives than either you or I do ; 
" men who make religion their daily bufinefs, and dare not 
" allow themfelves in thofe liberties of an immoral kind 

" which you and I do. After he had related to me 

" thefe particulars, he then directed his difcourfe to his fon, 
" Son, faid he, though I have not myfelf been fo religious, 
" and careful of my foul as I mould have been, yet I can- 
" not but have a tender concern for your everlafting happi- 
" nefs; and here, before Mr Williams, I admonifh you, 
M not to live after my example, but keep clofe to fuch per- 
" fons as the Diffenters, and make them your companions. 
" I have often advifed you to make this man your alTociate ; 
"he will lead you in the way to heaven. You are got in 
" with a knot of young fellows, who will do you no good i 
<* but I charge you" (which he uttered with a louder voice) 

"to 



ZQ HIS EARLY PIETY. [*7*0. 

" to leave off the company of fuch and fuch, and fpend all 
M the time you can in the company of this neighbour. To 
<c which I replied, Sir, I am now full of bufinefs, and am 
" much older than your fon, and therefore young men of his 

" own age are more fit for him to aflbciate with On my 

" faying this, he flopped his horfe, I being before him, and 
" his fon behind, and with great earneftnefs declared, 
€i I will not ftir from this place, until you have promifed 
** me to abandon that fet of companions, and make this 
" man your daily affociate. Mind religion, religion in 
" your youth, and do not do as I have done. I have 
* flighted many convictions, and now my heart is hard and 
" brawny." I was in a manner thunderftruck with the old 
gentleman's laft words, and though my father went on to 
relate more than he there uttered, and the promife his fon 
made him before he would ftir a ftep farther, yet my 
thoughts were wholly fwallowed up in deep mufing on thofe 
words, " My heart is hard and brawny." I had fuch an 
affecting fenfe of the old gentleman's dreadful ftate, that 
it engaged my mind all the reft of the way, and even while 
I was tranfacting bufinefs, it was flill uppermoft, and his 
words were ever founding in my ears. Thus I was kept 
long in a very ferious frame, and was poffcffed with a moft 
alarming fear left I mould fall into fuch a ftate, which I 
eonfidered as the greateft plague that could be inflicted up- 
on me. In this temper of mind I returned home, keeping 
my thoughts all the way intent upon the fad and folemn 
fubject. While I was thus mufing, the fire burned, my 
heart was hot within me, and ufmg a low voice, I kept up 
a ferious foliloquy on the mod important concerns of my 
foul, and the impreffion did not wear off a confiderable 
time. 

Not many weeks after this, as I was walking in the 
church-yard, I began to mufe on the antiquity of the 
church, and. put this queftion, What is now became of all 

the 



HIS EARLY PIETY, 21 

the builders of this {lately fabric ? This led me ferioufly to 
confider the different ftates of the dead. I confidered the 
many generations of mankind, that had entered upon the 
ftage of this world, had acted their part, and gone off 
from it. I confidered alfo, that an utter end is put to their 
fenfual pleafures and delights. Some of them were rich 
and great, high and honourable ; others were poor and de- 
fpifed, oppreffed with labour and poverty: but now death 
hath thrown down all that difference and distinction. As is 
the poor, fo alfo is the rich. The meannefs of the one, and 
the grandeur of the other, is equally forgotten. Yea, the 
remembrance of them, except of a few, is perifhed from the 
earth. But what rs become of their fouls, their immortal 
part? They are gone into the world cf fpirits, and their 
works have followed them. What they fowed here, that 
they are now reaping, and will be reaping to eternity. I 
then confidered, how little it would avail me, whether I 
were high or low, rich or poor, in this life, which is fo 
fhort and tranfitory, and how much it concerned me to 
fecure my foul's everlafting happinefs. I had then fuch a 
clear affecting fight of the vanity of this world, that I could 
not but wonder, how people could bufy themfelves fo much 
about it as to neglect their fouls. I wondered at the parifh- 
clerks in particular, who were prefect at fo many burials, 
how they could neglect to prepare for their own death. I 
fought a place to pray in, and got behind one of the but- 
treffes of the church, and there poured out my foul to God 
in earneft cries, for his grace, to enable me to live above 
the world, and to prepare me for a happy eternity. I came 
home with my thoughts fo full of eternity, that I did not 
care to think or fpeak of any thing elfe all that evening. 

In the beginning of the winter of 1710, at the edge of 
-a night on which our workmen have an annual feaft, and 
for which puvpofe they were gathering about the door, I 
was led to think, what poor joys thofe of the world are, 

fccw 



22 > HIS EARLY PIETY. L l 7 l °* 

how low and mean, how tranfient and of fhort continuance. 
I immediately withdrew into the- meadows. It being a 
clear fky, the majeftic canopy of the heaven*, befpangled 
with numberlefs itars, elevated my grovelling mind to con- 
template the fuperior glories of the great Author of this 
fiupendous fabric. I confidered, that what I beheld was 
but the porch, or rather fome more remote appendage to 
the heaven of heavens. If then the porch made fuch a 
glittering (how, how radiant mud the palace itfelf be ! I 
contemplated a while, as well as I could, the glories of 
heaven, and my mind was wrapt up with ambitious defires 
after a manfion there. I then returned, and (tealing up in 
the dark into a chamber, I earneftly prayed, and went down 
to the company; but the ferious imprefEons abode on my 
mind all the evening, and efpecially prevented that gaiety, 
which on fuch occafions I was ufed to difcover. It was 
foon after this, I contracted an intimacy with a young man. 
We walked together, and talked on the advantages of early 
piety and ferious godlinek. We agreed to meet often for 
fuch like conference, and for many years after there was 
fcarce a week palled, in which he did not vifit me, or I 
him. He feemed to make a vigorous progrefs, both ia 
knowledge and piety, and was often' of great fervice to me, 
as Mr Baxter writes of his bofom friend : 

u He warm'd me with his zeal when I was cold, 

" And my remiflhefs lovingly controul'd. 

" For fuch a friend I had: though, after all, 

<c Himfelf became my warning by his fall; 

*' As more than one or two have done fince then, 

" Shewing, if grace withdraws, we are but men." 

This very paffage we feveral times read together, and 
were equally at a lofs to know, whether Mr Baxter meant 
it of his friend's totally falling away, or only for a time. 

We 



HIS GROWTH IN PIETY. 2* 

We thought it could not be, that a perfon coming up to 
the chara&er there given, could utterly fall. I little 
thought then, that my friend, who feemed fully to come 
up to that character, mould, in the courfe of fome years, 
fo apoftatize as to become a common drunkard. Let this 
be a caution to me, and likewife a motive to thankfulnefs. 
Thou Jlandeft by faith ; be not high-minded, but fear* Let 
him that thinketh hejlandeth, take heed left he fall. 

HIS GROWTH IN PIETY. 

Augufl 4. 17 17. To this day I have had my ups and 
downs in religion. Sometimes lively workings of grace, 
holy fear and watchfulnefs, fervent love, warm defires, 
and fometimes a comfortable hope. At other times, 
I have given way to levity and vanity of mind, which 
brought on remifsnefs in duty, and even a neglect of it, 
till recovered by deep repentance. My father having 
communicated to me of late fome frowns of Providence 
in his temporal affairs, this difcovery produced in me a 
very humble refigned frame to the divine difpenfations, 
and in fome meafure prepared me for divine comforts, 
under the fermons I have heard to day, being our facra- 
ment day. ChrifVs love to fouls was the fubjedr. of dif- 
courfe. Never had I experienced fuch a flame of divine 
love as was then kindled in me, The word came to me 
with life and power. The Lord (hone in upon my foul 
with the enlightening and enlivening rays of his Holy 
Spirit, drawing out faith and love into lively exercife, excit- 
ing admiration and adoration of his wonderful and ftupen- 
dous love, and gave me fome well-grounded affurance of 
his fpecial love to me, and that I am a child of God. The 

good 



24 Hi s father's death. Z 1 l l 9< 

good effects were manifeft, both in the frame of my heart, 
and in the government of my life, long after. 

In the November following, was a day of humiliation. 
I had purpofed to fpend fuch days aforetime in a folemn 
manner, both in public and in private. But on this, for 
the flrft time, I fpent all the morning in fecret prayer, felf- 
examination, meditation and felf-dedication. Afterward 
I attended the whole public fervice, which lafted fix hours, 
and found myfelf more lively than common in every part 
of it, and for many weeks reaped great benefit to my foul 
from that day's employment. 

his father's death. 

My dear and honoured father died May t. 1719. His 
memory is blefTed, and will be for ever dear and precious 
to me. In him I loft, not merely a loving father and 
friend, but a wife and able coimfellor, a faithful guardia* 
and monitor, and an excellent pattern of fobriety, watch- 
fulnefs, felf-denial and diligence, particularly in his hea- 
venly calling. He redeemed a great deal of time from 
his bed, rifing commonly by four, and fpending two or 
three hour?, till the family rofe, in reading, meditation, 
and prayer. He was a man of a hot, paffionate temper, 
but through his great watchfulnefs, and clofe walking with 
God, it very feldom broke out ; on the contrary, he was 
remarkable for his meeknefs, calmnefs, and affability. As 
he lived generally beloved by perfons of all denominations, 
fo he died much lamented. I have great reafon to blefs 
God I had fuch a father. O that I might more and more 
copy] his excellent virtues ! His death greatly impreffed 
my mind, and roufed me out of that fpirit of floth and 
Cumber, into which my intended marriage had betrayed 

me. 



HIS DREAD OF HYPOCRISY. 2$ 

me. Upon ferious reflections, I became fenfible of the 
great lofs I had fuftained, was deeply humbled for my fad 
neglects of fecret religion, and renewed my resolutions for 
a more conftant, confcientious difcharge of the feverai 
duties of fecret prayer, meditation, and felf-examination, 
For a while ladled agreeably to fuch refolves; but alas I 
the world had got pofieflion of my heart, fo that I too 
foon returned to my former carelefTnefs. 

HIS DREAD OF HYPOCRISY. 

Avgujl 8. 1720. What a fad difcovery have I made 
of the hypocrify of my heart! what purpofes did I form 
fome time ago ! but alas ! I have no mind to go on with the 
duties to which I refolved. How foon did I fhake off the 
affecting fenfe of my refolutions! How foon did they lofe 
their force upon me! I could well enough fatisfy myfelf 
in the neglect of fecret duty, while I keep up family-prayer 
and reading the fcriptures. O dreadful hypocrify! O de- 
plorable ftate that I am in ! O that I knew and fufficiently 
conlidered my danger ofperifhing for ever! I fear I never 
had the graces of God's Spirit in fi-ncerity. I fear mine 
was only a fuperficial repentance and converfion, and all 
my religion but a profeilion, and ail ray joys in God and 
Chrilc but delufive elevations. Woe is me! Satan leads 
me about, and makes me his eafy prey, and yet I am not 
affected therewith, My wretched lufts. which ufed to lord 
it over me, are yet unfubdued. Over and above all this, 
I rind the world hath got fail rooting in my foul, and 
what will become of me I know not. I fear, after all my 
profeflion, the doom of the unprofitable fervant will be mine, 
" Bind him hand and foot, and cad him into darknefs, 
into weeping and wailing, and gnaihing of teeth.*' — Ye& 
day I joined with thole who renewed their covenant at 
C . the 



26 HIS HOPE OF SINCERITY. [ 1 72I. 

the Lord's table. Methought I would have done it 
fincerely; but O how unaffected was my foul in every part 
of the duty! neither humbled for fin! nor praifing God 
for his mercy and love in Chrift Jefus ! nor exercifmg faith, 
or any other grace! I could do nothing. O wretched, 
deplorable ftate! " Who can dwell with clevouring fire? 
Who can dwell with everlafting burnings V 9 

HIS HOPE OF SINCERITY. 

April 2 3. 1 72 1. Bleffed be God, who hath of late 
wrought in me a greater concern for my eternal welfare, 
than for a confiderable time before.' 1 hope the Lord 
hath been at work on my foul this day. I have for a 
long time entertained jealoufies of myfelf, left hypocrify 
Ihould reign in my heart. Reading to-day, in Fenner's 
Treatife of the Affections, the Lord was gracioufly pleafed 
to roufe me, in examining the ftate of my foul by the pulfe 
of my affections, and to fill me with jealoufy left I am yet 
an hypocrite, left all my religious profeffion be mere (hew 
or fhadow, without the fubftance. The fearful apprehen- 
sion thereof greatly impreffed my mind, and made me very 
penfive. I went up into my chamber to ruminate on the 
ftate of my foul, where, meeting with my wife, flie would 
ftay with me. I then told her my fears. She endea- 
voured to comfort me, when, alas ! I needed more to be 
excited and awakened. I went on charging myfelf, and 
exprefling my fears, till the Lord was gracioufly pleafed to 
warm my heart, and, I hope, in fome meafure to humble 
it. I thought I ihould be glad, if I might poffibly con- 
ceive, on good grounds, but fome fmall hopes of mercy 
at the hand of God. — This evening, the Lord gracioufly 
prepared a comforting word for me, as he had before gra- 
cioufly 



HIS GRACES STRENGTHENED. 2j 

cioufly prepared me for it. Our minifter expounded 
Ifaiah lvii. iS, 19. I have feen his ways, and will heal 
him, I will lead him alfo, and re/lore comforts unto him, and 
to his mourners. 1 create the fruit of the lips, peace, peace to 
him that is afar off] and to him that is near, faith the LorJ, 
and I will heal him* The Lord was graciouily pleafed to 
raife my affections at the firft hearing of the words, and to- 
make the difcourfe fuitable to my cafe, thereby to ftrengthen 
my hopes, that he will not quite call me off, nor be angry 
for ever* 

HIS GRACES STRENGTHENED. 

Ocloler 22. 1721. The defires of my foul have of late, 
bleffed be God, been more habitually after him, than -for 
the greater part of my life. Though I have ferved him 
in much weaknefs and with manifold imperfections; yea, 
and many times omitted worshipping him in fecret; yea, 
and the love of this world ftirring much in me, (as my en- 
deavours in my worldly calling appear to have a divine blef- 
fing); yet I humbly hope, he ftirs up in me defires to re- 
lift and overcome thofe workings of woridlinefs and co- 
vetoufnefs, and to make me in earned after die true riches, 
This day, it pleafed God to ftir up in me humble and ear- 
ned defires to meet him; and, I hope, I experienced his 
affiftance, this morning, both in fecret and family- prayer. 
God was alfo pleafed to fend me what was (likable and 
arTecting in public, when the minifter " befought us, by 
the mercies of God, to prefent our bodies a living facri- 
rice, holy, acceptable unto God,, which is our reasonable 
fervice." — I immediately after retired with a heart full, I 
humbly hope, of love and praife, bleffmg God for the im- 
preiTions that were thereby made upon my foul. What 

C z forrcvr 



23 HIS LOSSES IN' TRADE. C x 7 2 5» 

forrow for fin, and for my habitual corruptions, while, with 
much weeping, I was led to reflect on the many fins of 
my -.youth and riper years! My paflion of weeping was 
V/bimd up, I think, to as high a pitch as ever I remember 
en any occafion. But O the pleafure I felt, when God 
was pleafed, through that ftorm of grief, to v/hifper peace 
a&d pardon to my foul ! O how was I made to humble 
myfelf before God! How did he fhew me my own un- 
v/erthineft and nothingnefs, and make me wonder there 
was any hope for flich a worm! 

HIS LOSSES IN TRADE. 

Lord's clay, June 6. 1725. After many years of prof- 
perky, it pleafed God to exercife me with great loffes this 
year, to almod the whole of my capital in trade. But they 
were bleffed to my great advantage in fpiritual things, and 
made an occafion and means of clearing up my intered in 
the love of God, and my title to eternal life, for which I 
had long before been labouring to vain, by clofs examina- 
tion and earned prayer. While my mind was very ap- 
prehenfve of the fatal confequences that might attend thefe 
eve* whelming loffes, I went into my clofet, and read Fla- 
▼el's Saint Indeed, particularly his directions how to keep 
the heart in time of adverfity. It pleafed Go3 fc to blefs 
that good man's advice in fuch a cafe, and fo to fet it home 
upon my foul, that I was brought into a mod fubmiffive, 
refigned frame. It quite ftilled the dorm, and produced 
a perfect calm. I was thoroughly convinced that there 
was honey in the rod. and that God was doing me good, 
end not evil, by this enablement. I was particularly con- 
vinced, that this was feot in anfwer to my prayers. I had 
often bewailed a proud,, earthly heart, and had begged for 

• hvr 



HIS LOSSES IN TRADX. 



lity and heavenly-mindednefs. I was convinced, that 
no means could be more likely to obtain fuch a bleffed 
temper, than impoverifhing providences. I had often 
prayed, that God would hedge up my way, rather thai: 
lufFer me to be proud and carnal. I concluded God 
was now doing it, and that the iiiue of all would be 
gracious. 

Lord's Jay, July II. 1725. I greatly hope my kind 
and gracious God hath been pleafed to blefs this affliction 
to my fpiritual benefit. Pie hath thereby brought my foul 
into a more refigned frame, and made me more folicitous 
about my interefl in himfelf, that good part which can never 
be taken from me. He hath difcovered fo much love iii 
this providence, as makes me even rejoice in it, and blefs . 
him for it. The fermons I have been hearing, on theft 
words, Thou art my portion, Lor J J adminiftered great 
comfort and joy to my foul. I have more cbeerfal hcpe, 
that I have chofen God for my portion, and that this af- 
fliction is fo far blefled to me, as to make the frame of my 
fpirit more ferious, and to enable me to engage in every re- 
ligious duty with greater fervency, and to labour after a more 
clofe walking with God. O gainful lofsi O wondrous 
grace! How are all his ways mercy and truth i In very 
faithfulnefs doth he afflict. He referves his cordials for 
his children in their greateii ftraits and difficulties. Let 
me ftill hope and truft: in thee, O my God, and not re- 
turn to vanity, earthlinefs, or pride any more; but keep me 
humble and ferious, and let my foul ever blefs thee. 

Friday, July 16. I 7 25. O how wife and gracious is 
my heavenly Father? How fweetly doth he over-rule af- 
flictive and difappointing providences to my great advantage - 
and comfort 1 Surely I find my heart improving and grow- 
ing hereby in fubpiiffion to the will of God, delight in 
God, and in duty. Surely I am enabled to love God 
.more, not crdy by means of this trial, but even for it. In 
C 3 prayer,. 



$Q HIS LOSSES IN TRADE. L l 7*f* 

prayer, this morning, my foul was drawn out in love and 
praife, and my affections fweetly flirred. Bleffed be God I 

Saturday, July 17. 1 725 Having for a confiderabk 
time been reading Baxter's Saints Reft, though never fo 
■conftantly every morning as fmce my loiles in trade, I am 
now come to his arguments for, and directions in the hea- 
venly work of meditation, and am greatly excited to en- 
gage in it daily. I began this evening, for the firft time, 
to walk abroad to meditate; and though I have caufe to 
bewail a backward, carelefs, earthly heart, yet, bleffed be 
God, my labour (I humbly hope) was not loft. I did 
experience fome raifednefs of affection, fome drawing forth 
of defire, fome comfort of hope. 

About the beginning of November 1725, fome aggra- 
vating eircumftances were added to my late loffes in trade, 
upon which I again had recourie to FlavePs directions 
how to keep the heart in times of adverfity. God was 
pleafed, by reading and prayer, to fupport my foul, and to 
s.ifure me it was from love, from covenant love, he thus 
exercifed me. My diftreis was relieved. I was enabled, 
with faith and patience, to caft my burden upon the Lord, 
upon his wifdom, and directing providence. I was parti- 
cularly led to renew my refolutions to ufe and improve op- 
portunities for meditation. Accordingly, evening after 
evening, God is pleafed to ravifh my foul with, the joyful 
profpect of future glory, and to draw out my longing de- 
fires after it, in fuch a manner and meanvre as I never felt 
before.— Many times, fince July n. my defires to have 
God for my portion were greatly excited. Fain would I 
1 ace adopted the Pfalmiu's afpiration, but durft not. I 
tried it day after day. It ran exceedingly in my mind 
for weeks. Whatever I was doing about my trade-af- 
fairs, this would be nppermoft, O that I could fay, Thou 
art my portion, Lord! At laft, finding that nothing lefs 
Would fatisfv the deflres of myfoul, and believing the 

Lord 



HIS LOSSES IN TRADE- $1 

Lord himfelf had ftirred up thefe defires, and therefore, if 
I was willing, he could not be unwilling; I ventured, though 
with a trembling heart, to fay, Thau art my portion, 
Lord I Thereupon, joy, like a tide, came roiling in, and 
got poflefli'on of my foul ; and I was quickly able, in the 
confidence of faith, to repeat the afpiration. My mind 
is full of it, and it puts life and vigour into every grace. 

November 10. 1725. In anfwer to a letter from my 
Rev. brother Pearfall, in which he fympathized with me 

under my late Jofles, I wrote to him as fellows: " I 

*' refent, with fin cere gratitude, your kind concern for me, 
" and tender fympathy with me, under thefe afflictions 
" which an all-wife, infinitely gracious, loving, and, I 
<; humbly hope, my beloved God and Father, is, in great 
" mercy, and according to the directions of unerring wif- 
" dom, exercifing me with, who am lefs than the leaft of 
" all his mercies, unworthy of every mercy, and therefore 
u unworthy of his correcting love. Shall I tell you? Are 
u you not defirous to know how fo heavy a ftroke is borne? 
" I cannot, without fear and jealoufy, left my apprehen- 
u ficns and fancy mould exceed the reality of my faith 
u and divine enjoyments, relate to you the temper of my 
u mind, fmce I heard the tidings of my late difappoint- 
" ments. O that I could do it with a fingle eye to the 
" glory of fo good a God, and to the magnifying his inef- 
Ci fable grace and love ! Dear brother, I have all things, 
" and abound. I have not fuffered lofs, but reaped die 
u greateft gain. He hath fhed abroad that love in my 
" heart, which is better than wine. The tidings were at 
" firft fomewhat furpriilng, the fwelling billows began to 
** tofs my mind and difturb my reft. But Oh, what ferene 
i; calm fellows, when God fpeaks peace! How cheering 
" are the fmiles of his love; How fweetly did he per- 
* fuade, and even affiire my foul, that, by this crofs provi- 
<J dence, he was faithfUIy purfuing- the great end of elecl- 

« ing 



J2 HIS LOSSES IN TRADE. [ 1 7 2 5» 

" ing love, and did order this affliction as a means fan&i- 
*' hed to that happy end! that by this, my iniquities mould 
" be purged, and this fhould be the fruit thereof, to take 
a away firi, to mortify my carnal affections, to wean 
*? me from earth and fenfe, to ftrengthen my faith in 
" God, and every ho!y difpofition, to lead me into the fe- 
<c cret of communion with him here, and to ripen me for 
" everlaiUng glory hereafter ! O how did my. heart, as 
u well as my eyes, overflow with joy, when he gave me the 
" comforting evidence of my intereft in his favour, and in 
" the merits of Chrift, fhewed me my name written in the 
" Lamb's book of life, and gave me fome foretaftes of that 
" fulnefs of joy, and thofe rivers of pleafure, at/ the foun- 
" tain-head of which the faints are folacing themfelves to 
" eternal ages! O how ravifhing is his beauty and glory! 
*' If a tranfient glance, in this ftate of diitance and imper- 
" fection, be fo tranfporting, I had almolt faid transform- 
" ing, what will it be to fee him face to face, to dwell for 
" ever in his glorious prefence, and look ourfe Ives into his 
H very iikenefs? I could cheerfully fay, with Dr Watts, 

*' My willing foul would flay 

" In fuch a frame as this, . 
'• And fit and fing herfelf away 

" To everlaftin^ t>lir S . ?> 

o 

" Could I repine, think you, at Providence ? Nay, could I 
" fo much as grieve ? Was there any place left for farrow 
* ; in my heart ? No. Sorrow was at once bariimed from 
u my mind, and joy and gladnefs put into full poffeffion. 
"Thus more than once hath my heavenly Father vifited 
( 'me; for he is afflicted in all our afflictions, and referves, 
" his choifeft cordials for the feafons of our greateft deiec- 

u tion and fainting. What wifdom too mines forth in 

•" this providence? Upon reflection, I find, according to 
" your penetrating hints, that though I did, I truft, own 

" the 



his losses in trade. 33 

n the hand of God in the former lofs, and could blifs a 
" taking as well as a giving God, yet I defpifed the chaft> 
* c ening of the Lord; or, if I were in any meafure hum- 
u bled under the mighty hand of God, yet I am fure I 
" did too foon forget it: of which I was not wholly infen- 
" fible, and often chid my flupid foul on account thereof. 
M And though I do believe I have been the better for it 
" ever fince, yet the defired end was but partially and 
u very imperfectly anfwered. My fervour began to cool. I 
" began to remit my diligent attendance to fecret duties, and 
" particularly folemn dated meditation; for theconfciectious 
11 difcharge of which, that difappointmnt had irrengthened 
u my vefolution : — A duty this, which I would earneilly 
" recommend to all that defire to live a life of communion: 
c< with God, as they value fpiritual peace, comfort and 
u joy.— And O ! what gocdnefs, mildnefs, and gentlenefs 
f< doth my heavenly Father difcover in this providence ? 
** Perhaps he is only making the rod over me, that there- 
11 by he might more deeply imprefs former impreffions. 
" For I am not without hopes, that in the iffue I mall 
4< fuftain little or -no lofs in my outward eftate. What 
" kindnefs doth my heavenly Father fhew, by inclining 

« good to lend me a fupporting hand in this 

" exigence ! Surely I muft not overlook the goodnefs of 
c< God therein, at the fame time that I owe very great ob- 

" ligations to — — , who, of his own accord, and un- 

" aiked, became my furety. I am encompaffed round 
(i with mercies, which way foever I look, or bend my 
" thoughts. O how admirably is juftice chequered with 
" mercy ! How endearing the methods of the fovereign 
" grace of God, to bring us to himfelf!— But I fear pride 
"* hath too much a hand in dictating. O this cuffed pride! 
il I am fenfible my temper is very much addicted to it. 
4i O that God would heal me of this fin of pride 1 would 
* hide it from me, that I may take root im humility, and 

15 thereby 



34 HIS LOSSES IN TRADE. f I 72 J^ 

t( thereby grow more liable and ftedfaft in the ways of 
* { God! O that this providence may be bleffed to the curing 
il a vain, earthly mind, and a hard, unbelieving heart, and 
" every other fpiritual difeafe ! 

" Then (hall I fing, O happy rod, 

" That brought me nearer to my God! 

" But I fear, 1 juftly fear, I (hall again be enfnared by this 
" tempting, deceitful world. Dear brother, help me by 
u your prayers, help me by your farther inftruclions," &c. 
Lord's day, December 26. 1725. Still an all-wife God, 
whom, unworthy as I am, I hope I may call my God, my 
gracious and merciful God and Father, is exercifing me 
with farther and greater trials, in confequence of my for- 
mer IoiTes, and by which they are rendered more aggra- 
vated than I could have imagined. Amidft all thefe dif- 
treffes I can, through abounding grace, fay, with Dr 
Watts, 

P Should earth again ft my foul engage* 

" And hellifh darts be hurPd, 
" Then I can fmile at Satan's rage, 

" And face a frowning world. 
" Let cares like a wild deluge come, 

" And ftorms of forrow fall •> 
" May I but fafely reach my home, 

" My God, my heaven, my alii" 

However, I would be found diligently preparing for the 
word that can come. Therefore, whatever God hath al- 
ready permitted, and even though he mould permit the 
worft I can fear, thefe are my purpofes, by the grace of 
God enabling me. 

Firft, I do, and will endeavour to juftify God in alL 

He 



HIS LOSSES IN TRADE. 35 

He is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 
Perhaps he is calling my fins to remembrance, and chaften- 
ing me for former follies, to humble me yet more, which is 
what my proud fpirit greatly needs. I am very fenfible, 
though I have not been duly humbled for it, that I have 
been too much in love with the world, and too much de- 
lighted with worldly profperity, even lifted up by it. O that 
pride did not ftill find place in my heart, and mingle even 
with the patience I difcover in bearing thefe trials of ad- 
verfity! Lord, help me to lay myfelf low, as in the duft, 
before thee. Let me be able to fay, Lord, thou haft over- 
come. O that this proud heart of mine were more effect- 
ually overcome, and bowed to thy will! O that it were 
purged of pride, and every finful difpofitiofl, and made al- 
together fuch as thou wouldft have it to be! 

Secondly, I will endeavour to receive this, and every 
ether affliction which my heavenly Father is pleafed to ex- 
ercife me with, as coming from his hand, and by his direc- 
tion, and therein to comfort myfelf, and rejoice, that it is 
my Father's good pleafure. Though I defire to mourn 
for my fins, which are the procuring caufe of all my afflic- 
tions; yet will I rejoice, that all thefe afflictions are of my 
heavenly Father's appointing, who will ftay his rough wind 
in the day of ,the eaft-wind, and will moderate my afflic- 
tions, I truft, if he fee it beft for me. How harm and fe- 
vere foever he may fuffer them to be, I know and believe 
he can bring good out of them, and fanctify them to my 
fpiritual and eternal good. Therefore, 

Thirdly, I will endeavour quietly to fubmit to this, and 
every other affliction, I will bow to the fceptre of divine 
grace, and patiently accept the punimment of my fin. 

Fourthly, I will ftill hope in God, and repofe my truft 
in him alone. Yea, though he flay me, yet will I truft in 
iiim. I can do all this. through Chrift ftrengthening me. 
But, O iifly God, one thing I humbly beg, take not thy 

Holy 



36 THOUGHTS ON HIS ETERNAL STATE. [1726. 

Holy Spirit from me; renew thy cordials, and furnifu me 
with every grace, that I may hold out even unto death, 
and at laft receive the crown of life. 

®^o-0 

THOUGHTS ON HIS ETERNAL STATE. 

Auguji 1726. Being on a journey to London, in a 
crofs road between Ailfbury and Amerfham, my way lny 
clofs by a church-yard, where I few a monument of a wo- 
man, whofe age, when fhe died, was the fame with my 
own, fhe and I being born that fame month and year. This 
led me to confider What if it had been the divine ap- 
pointment, that I had quitted this earthly tabernacle two 
years ago, as me did; where would death have landed me, 
and what fiate had I now been in ? Would my departed 
fpirit have fallen a prey to the devouring jaws of infernal 
Sends ? O what terror would have feized me at their firifc 
appearance ! What horror would have racked this trem- 
bling foul of mine, to find itfelf naked and defencelefs under 
.the pcwer of mercilefs furies? In what a cruel and violent 
manner would they have dragged me to the prifon of hell I 
With what contempt would they have ridiculed my folly, 
in fcmandering away my precious time, to purfiie trifles, and 
make provifion for the fleih, to fulfil the lulls thereof, which 
mould have been improved to work out my own falvation 
with fear and trembling ! How bitterly would my own 
heart have reproached me for my folly, in refufing the of- 
fers of grace, which have been fo often tendered to me; 
and refifting the motions of the Holy Spirit, which have 
fo often fwcetly drawn me; and dividing my heart betweer: 
God and this world, when it ought to have been the Lord's 
wholly ! How would the terrors of the Lord have ftt 
iliemfelyes in array againft me, and the dregs of the cup of 



THOUGHTS OK HIS ETERNAL STATE. 37 

his indignation have been given me ! Who can dwell with 
devouring fire? Who can dwell with everlafting burnings? 
How dreadful to be cut off for ever from the divine favour, 
and for ever to be a companion of devils and damned fpi- 
1 its, to hear their horrid execrations and blafphemies ! — * 
My affections by this time were fo moved that I could no: 
contain, but with an audible voice cried out, Lord, gather 
not my foul withjinners, nor my life with bloody men* — I was 
comforted with the teftimony of my confcience, that I had 
not made fuch my beloved affociates upon earth ; that they 
were not the men of my delight; and therefore I hoped 
that my portion would not be with fuch at laft, whofe com* 
pany my foul abhorred. I had an inward witnefs, that I 
could never patiently endure to hear the facred name of 
God profaned by impious lips, much lefs to hear it blaf- 
phcmed; but that God was my exceeding joy, his favour 
my life, and his loving- kindnefs better than life. Encou- 
raged by tins lively hope, I fhifted the melancholy fcene to 

one more bright and glorious. O! what a joyfuffur- 

prize would it be to my foul, as foon as me gets loofe from 
this prifon of the flefh, to behold a convoy of angels, which 
excel in flrength, waiting her feparation, and ready to re- 
ceive her into their embraces, and welcome her into the 
world of glorified fpirits ? How transporting, to find her- 
felf fafe under their guardian care, and hear them fay 
" Fear not, happy foul, thou art greatly beloved. Oft 
*' have we ftooped from the heights of glory, to attend thy 
" motions, and preferve thee from unfeen dangers. Oft 
" have we been detached from the armies of heaven, to 
"guide thy doubtful feet through perplexing labyrinths, 
" and to affift and animate thy devotions. We are now 
<c fent to be thy convoy to realms of light, and to t>refenfc 
" thee before his prefence, who iiath loved thee with an 
u everlafiing love, and with loving kindnefs hath drawn 
<* thee.'' Whether borne on the wbgs of thofe flaminc* 

D minifters' 



g8 THOUGHTS ON HIS ETERNAL STATE. £172*6. 

rninifters, or on pinions of her own, with what fpeed and 
pleafure would my fpirit fail betwixt worlds and worlds, 
towards the haven of immortal blifs ! When approaching 
the heavenly Jerufalem, the city of the living God, how 
divine the joy, to confider her palaces, and mark well her 
bulwarks! What an entrance would (he have through the 
gates into the city 1 How aftonifhed at the grandeur and 
magnificence, and that a creature, fo mean and unworthy, 
fo vile and finful, fliould be exalted to fuch dignity and 
glory ! But O the joy, to hear from the refulgent throne, 
In mild and gracious accents, fuch words as thefe — Well 
done, good and faithful fervant, enter thou into the joy of thy 
ZiOtJl—How ravifhing, to receive the careffes of the hea- 
venly inhabitants, who rejoiced at her converfion, and will 
much more rejoice at her entrance into glory ! How pecu- 
liarly tender the greetings of former affociates in the path 
to glory! How charming their fongs, and their readinefs 
to teach a ftranger ! Is all this but the beginning of a feli- 
city, that is to be ever growing] — With thefe thoughts I 
felt a joyful perfuafion, that this, aed much more than this, 
ihould ere long be my happy irate. I was filled with fv/eet 
confolations. I could not forbear crying out, Grace i grace I 
Tears gufhed from my eyes abundantly. Whilft I pur- 
sued the meditation, I was (till with ravimment crying 
out, Grace ! grace ! After thefe ftrong emotions fkbfided, 
a ferious,, heavenly frame abode long on my mind, attended 
with earned breathings of foul after God and Chrift, after 
«race and glory, fuch £s I never experienced in any for- 
mer journey. 



* TIME 



A TIME OF SICKNESS AND DEATH. 39 



A TIME OF SICKNESS AND DEATH. 
November 1 6. 1 7 26. Whilft I was fitting up with a 
dying friend, I wrote to my Rev. brother Pearfall the 

following lines. " Surely I cannot want a fubjecl:, now 

u I am hearing the pantings of a poor, helplefs, fick man, 
u labouring for breath, and perhaps infenfible of his own 
" cafe. O what a privilege to be a Chriftian ! How fafe 

* is their (late, of whom the apoflle teftifies, All things 
u are yours, whether life vr death, or things preftnt or things 
<c to come. And again, I am perfuaded, that neither death 
** nor life, &c. /hall he able to fsparate us from the /ove of 
" God, which is in Chrijl Jefus our Lord. — In fuch a dying 
" time, when our relations and intimate friends are fick 
w and dying around us, we cannot but expect our own turn 

* may be next. What an unfpeakable pleafure is it, to 
¥ have feme comfortable hopes, fome weli-grounded con- 
" fidence, that death, our laft enemy, cannot hurt us: that 
" his fling is taken away: that, through the conquefl of our 
u victorious Redeemer, we may triumph over him, as a 
" difarmed, vanquifhed foe: that, however horrible his ap- 

* proaches are to nature, diffolving her frame, deflroy- 
u ing the curious machine by which the foul acts in this 
" ftate of imperfection, and putting an end to all fen&al 
"joys; yet through the riches of divine grace, we can 
(i look, by an overcoming faith, heyond theie melancholy 
" fcenes, to the glorious iffue ; to that reft which remains 
** for the people of God ; to that prize for which we are 
" wreftling, driving, running, fighting; that end of all our 
" duties, for which we have fb long been waiting and pray- 
" ing; that joyful harveft, after a weeping feed- time; yea, 
11 that quiet haven, after a dangerous, tempefiuous voyage, 
" with what tranfporting joy might a Hveiy faith and hope 
■ v enable the gracious foui to look on ; and embrace, when 

D 2 called 



4$ A TIME OF SICKNESS AND DEATH. [1726* 

" called to it, that which is in the greatefl averfion of our 
" nature; becaufe it puts a period- to all our fins and for- 
" rows, to all the miferies we either feel or fear, and in- 
* s troduces us to the beatific vifion and fruition of our God 
"and Saviour, whom having not feen we love, whofe 
" beaming glories (hall conform our fouls to the image of 
"our glorious Creator, and fnall finally change thefe vile 
" bodies, and fafhion them like to his own glorious body. 
" Though it doth not yet appear what we fhall be; yet we 
" know that when he fhall appear, we fhall be like him, for 
" we fhall fee him as he is. Can we, forbear crying out 
6C with the poet, 

" O happy place! When fhall I be, 

" My God, with thee, to fee thy face!" 

" Though to be prefent with the Lord is the primary hap 
" pinefs of faints abfent from the body; yet to be joined to 
" an innumerable company of angels, and to the general af- 
cl fembly and church of the firft born, which are written m 
" heaven, and to the fpirits of juft men made perfect, af- 
14 fords a delicious profpecl. We fhall then find, to our 
" increafing joy, that our friends, who fleep in Jefus, and 
M are dead out of our world, yet live. If we over- 
" take them, to how great an advantage fhall our acquain- 
" tance with them be renewed 1 In how much more refined 
44 a manner, than here we are wont, fhall we join with them 
46 in adoring our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanclifier! With 
44 what ecftatic admiration fhall we unite in celebrating the 
" wifdom, power, and goodnefs of the great Jehovah, 
" which fhine fo bright to the inhabitants of that blefTed 
"world! With what triumphant exultations recount the 
" wonders of redeeming love, as well in the particular in- 
" ftances thereof to our own fouls, as in its general difplay 
« to the human race. — But I may well check myfelf with, 

44 Wha 



A TIME C? SICKNESS AND DEATH* ^X 

" Who is this that darkeneth counfel with words without 
" knowledge P How low, how inadequate are my concep- 
*' tions of that glory, which eye hath not feen, nor ear 
M heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of men to 
" conceive! This we are fure of, that our joy fhail be full 
" and everlafling; and mould not fuch a profpecl reconcile 
" us to death ? Bleffed then, for ever bleffed be the God 
f< and Father of our Lord Jefus Chriir, who according to 
M his abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a lively 
" hope of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that 
" fadeth not away, referved in heaven for usl How mould 
" we rejoice in the grace in which we (land, and triumph 
" in hope of the glory of God 1 How mould we love the 
" author and purchafer of all this happinefs, and admire and 
" adore rich and free grace, which chofe us in Chrifl: before 
11 the foundation of the worlds and faved us, not by works 
** of righteoufnefs, which we have done, but according to 
44 his mercy? Dear Brother, how infinite are our obliga- 
11 tions to love the Lord," &c 

Lord's day, November 20. 1726. God, my good and 
gracious Father, hath been pleafed to appoint a merciful 
iflue to my wordly loffes, and to give me a year of con- 
fiderable profperity in trade; and yet, I humbly hope, my 
mind hath not been puffed up therewith, as formerly. — L 
am now called to obferve the hand of God in an uncom- 
mon, malignant, epidemical fever, by which in this little 
town many have been cut off, twenty in one week, and 
eight were buried in one day. How fhall 1 improve fuch 
awful providences? Shall I fuffer the love of the world to 
fill my heart? May I not reafonably expect, that as I alfo 
am formed of the fame brittle materials, my own turn may 
be near approaching? What remains then, but that, as I 
have often, fo now again, I folemnly give up myfelf to him^ 
whofe I am, and humbly refign myfelf to his difpofal ? into 
thine band I commit my fpirit, thou hajl redeemed me, Lord 
Dj: God, 



42 SICKNESS AND DEATH IMPROVED. C*?^ 

God of truth* O lit me for thyfelf, and when thou pleafefr^ 
receive me to thy glory! Bkffed be God, death doth not 
now appear terrible to me; but how it would appear in its 
neareft approaches, I cannot fay. O that its fling were 
taken away, as I hope it is, that it may be fafe, though it 
fhould not be comfortable ! O that thefe awful difpenfations 
may be fan&lhed to all concerned, to ftir us up to prepare 
to meet our God, and better to improve our religious pri- 
vileges, which are fo diilinguiining! Thrice happy they who 
are fafe arrived above, far from this world of care and ftrife, 
this abode of fin and forrow, and are ever prefent with the 
Lord ! Happy they too, who are nncerely the Lord's, and, 
though fojourning yet in this vale of tears, have a clear title 
to a manfion in the new Jerufalem, and are daily preparing 
for thofe j oys and glories that are to be revealed ! 

SICKNESS AND DEATH IMPROVED. 

June 28. 1727. On my return home yefterday from 
fin evening walk, in which my heart had been warmed 
with meditation, I vifited a neighbour, whom I found 
wreftling with death, and very delirious. I prayed with 
his friends. This morning I went again, and was much 
affected, to fee fo vain a man (landing on the very edge 
of life, foon to leap into an unknown eternity, for which I 
fear he was too little prepared. He died about noon. In 
retirement, I fet myfelf to meditate on death, which again 
prevails amongfl: us. I then recoleded an excellent fer- 
mon> preached yefterday, on the importance of having an 
interefl in Chrift. My affections were ftirred, and gra- 
cious difcoveries my heavenly Father was pleafed to make 
of his love to my foul. 

QSober 1. 1727. In my late Lancafhire journey, I had 

fweet 



MEDITATION BEFORE THE LORDY SUPPER. 43 

fweet experience of the Spirit's gracious influences, helping 
me to maintain a devout frame of foul, and enjoy delightful 
communion with God in meditation, when, in many evening 
walks, I retired from public company. The ficknefs and 
mortality, which every where prevailed, was of great fer- 
vice to me, to keep the general temper and frame of my 
mind ferious, by holding the eternal (late and world much 
in view. BlefTed be God ! 

MEDITATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

Lord's Jay, September I. 1728. O my foul, I am this 
day to celebrate the fupper of the Lord. It is not a feaft 
for my body, but my foul. Haft thou a fpiritual appetite ? 
If, through grace, an habitual difporition towards things of 
a fpiritual nature be given, yet it concerns thee to get live- 

ly actings of that divine temper. 1 hope a faving change 

hath been wrought in me. The truth of my converfion 
hath flood many a trial. My confcience hath witneiTei 
to this good work of the Holy Spirit. Blefs the Lord 
for this, O my foul, and all that is within me, blefs his 
holy name. — Yet how indifpofed and unprepared do I find 
rnyfelf at this time ! God hath been pleafed to prove me 
by many family afflictions and deaths. I did endeavour, 
I hope, patiently to fubmit to the will of God, and to hum- 
ble rnyfelf under his mighty hand. But alasl how foon 
hath the fenfe thereof worn off my mind! How quickly 
have I loft the impreilions of the rod! I have not, indeed, 
fainted under the divine rebukes; but I have defpifed the 
chaftening of the Lord, which mould have bound me, as 
with cords, to the careful, ferious difcharge of every duty, 
and to a con/lant preparation for my own diffolution. 
What Deed have I to be importunate for divine influences 

from 



44 THOUGHTS OK THE LAST JUDGMENT. [1729. 

from above, without winch I can do nothing! Let me 
now awake out of my (loth and ftupidity, and (lir up my 
feul to lay hold on God. I am to accept of Chrift to be 
my King and Saviour, with all the bleffings of his purchafe, 
as exhibited at his table to all that are willing and prepa- 
red. I am to remember him, and what he hath done and 
fuffered, and to fhew forth his death, in order to the mor- 
tification of my lufts,,and the increafe of my faith and love, 
my repentance and new obedience. I find myfelf fadly 
unfit for work fo heavenly and divine. I have been ear- 
neflly feeking the divine prefence on my knees. For this 
caufe I will befeech the Lord again and again. I will 
go unto God, unto God my exceeding joy 5 unto God 
who hath the refidue of the Spirit. Who knows but he 
may return and be gracious? I will confefs my fins unto 
him. Who knows but he may give me a broken and a con- 
trite heart I I will plead with him the death of his own Son, 
and his own declared willingnefs to make us holy and 
happy. God will not flrot out the cries of his own child- 
ren. I will caft myfelf upon his mercy and truth,, who 
never faid to the feed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. My 
God will hear my complaint, and give a gracious anfwer>. 
if I can but fend up humble, fervent defires. 

■ MM. I " €H£t@» " 

THOUGHTS ON THE LAST JUDGMENT. 

Lord's day, July 27. 1 729. In an excellent- fermon 
to-day, it hath been proved, from reafon and fcripture, 
IV e mujl all appear before the judgment-feat of GhrijL And 
now, G my foul, what preparation have I made for the 
future judgment ? On what terms do I ftand with God ? 
The day is coming, yea it haftens on apace, when I mail 
be cut off from the land of the living, when I mail no 
longer have opportunity of repenting or believing, of con- 

feffing 



THOUGHTS ON THE LAST JUDGMENT. 45 

fe fling fin or forfaking it, and fo making my peace with 
God through faith in the blood of the Redeemer. I have 
been long iince planted in the houfe of the Lord. I have 
made great profeilion of religion. I have been bleffed 
with many ferious calls to repentance and new obedience. 
I have been awakened by many a rod, many a fmarting 
ftroke of Providence. I have many a time fat down with 
the followers of Chrift at his table, and there profeffed to 
renew my baptifmal vow, my covenant- engagements to be 
the Lord's. It may juftly be feared, if I am filthy/ I 
mail be filthy ftifl. Sure I am, as the tree falls, there it 
fhall lie. O my foul, art thou favingly interested in Chrift, 
or art thou not ? After all the ferious, diligent refearches 
of my heart and life I have already made, it is worth my 
while again to enquire into this important concern, that if, 
upon an impartial trial, my heart condemns me not, I may 
have confidence towards God, and may rejoice in hope of 
the glory of God ; or if my heart condemns me, yet, as 
mercy is ftill freely offered, and there is a pofiibility of my 
repentance and return to God, I may labour to get an af- 
fecting, foul-humbling fenfe of my miferable ftate, and may 
flee from the wrath to come. Surely there is hope in 
Chrift concerning this thing. If I were prefumptive heir 
to fome considerable eftate, even though my title to it 
were very difputable, I fhould fpare no pains in my power 
to make it clear; I fhould accomplifh a diligent fearch ^ 
I fhould be contriving ways and means to get as certain a 
knowledge of it as pofllble ; and, as far as I apprehended 
confident with juftice, I fhould ftick at nothing to make it 
fure. And doth not the kingdom of heaven deferve as 
much labour and diligence as an earthly pofTeillon ? En- 
quire then, O my foul, into thy qualifications for the hea- 
venly felicity and glory, and confequently thy title to it. 
— Do I hate fin ? Heaven is a ftate of holinefs, as welf as 
happinefsj and there fhall in no wife enter into it anything 

that 



46 THOUGHTS ON THE LAST JUDGMENT. [1729* 

that defileth, or that worketh abomination, or that maketh 
a lie. The God with whom T have to do, is an holy, fin- 
hating God, and requires that his people be holy as he is 
holy. An intereft in Chrift is utterly inconfiftent with a 
love to fin, for Chrift is not the minifter of fin. Do I then 
hate fin? Thus far I am fure, I hate fin in others. I hate 
profane fwearing, fabbath-breaking, drunkennefs, unclean- 
nefs, theft, and murder. I hate their lying and diflimula- 
tion, perfidy, and ingratitude. But do I hate my own 
fir* 1 } ? I hope I can truly fay, as to myfelf, I hate unclean- 
nefs of every kind, and in every degree. I hate lying, 
cheating, over-reaching of others, even where I could do 
it unknown to all men. I h?te profanenefs of every kind, 
even profane wit. I hate hypocrify. I hope I hate 
worldly-mindedncfs. Yea, I hope, I hate pride, even in 
myfelf j it is what I watch, and ftrive, and pray againfh 
I fee the beauty of humility. I fee the excellency of a 
fpiritual frame of foul, and a holy, heavenly convention. 
I hope, I love God fo much, that I hate every tiling that 
is derogatory to his honour. I hope, I hate every thing 
that unfits me for the fervice of God, or for the duties of 
my calling. I can generally deny myfelf things, however 
pleafant and agreeable to my palate, or carnal defires, or 
views of any kind, fo far as I find the gratification and 
purfuit thereof would interfere with my temporal or fpiri- 
tual interefts, or cfcfetcl my ufefulnefs. I cannot but 
hope, on the clcfeft examination of my heart, that I do 
indeed hate fin. — Do I love God above all, and the Lord 
J ejus Chrift in Jtnccrity ? Can I anfwer, if the queftion 
were put to me by the Searcher of hearts, Jojeph V/iUlams, 
lovejl thou me more than all? Can I appeal to Omnifcience 
itfelf, Lord, thou knoweft all things, thou knowejl that I love 
thee? I have often found by unquestionable experience, that 
1 do in my judgment approve of the enjoyment of God, 

of his favour, and the light of his countenance, and prefer 

k 



THOUGHTS ON THE LAST JUDGMENT. 4*7 

it before any pleafure or delight whatfoever, though it be 
in the abfence of every creature comfort, even in poverty and 
want, and under a load of fcorn and contempt. I do in 
my judgment approve a life of communion with God in 
the moft abject, outward circumftances, better than a fe- 
ries of the higheft profperity, better than the abundance 
of riches and honour, without his fpecial love and favour. 
Sure I am, if I can be fure of any thing, that I have often 
tafted more exquifite pleafure and delight in meditation and 
prayer, have drawn more folid-fatisfaclion from a fenfe of di- 
vine love, and a good hope of an intereft in Chrift, than ever 
I felt in any other joy whatfoever. Yea, in the mod profpe- 
rous circumftances I have ever been favoured with, my bed: 
comforts have been derived from the hopes of the full enjoy- 
ment of the divine prefence. But then, O my foul, why am I 
fo feldom. and fo cold, in meditation and prayer? Can this 
coniift with a fuperlative love to God and Chrift ? Where the 
treafare is, there will the heart be alfo. If the favour of 
God be above all things dear to me, why am I fo cold a 
fuitor at the throne of grace ? Why am I no more on my 
knees in my clofet. Why do I employ fo little time in 
devout meditation? If indeed I love him above all, why 
doth it not appear by loving to converfe with him ? Why 
do I not love his people more, and delight more in their 
fociety and converfe ? Why do I not fnew greater zeal 
in promoting his caufe and intereft ? O my foal, loved thou 
the Lord Chrift ? — Do I believe in the Lord Jefus Chrift? 
Do I believe in him to the faving of my foul ? Is mine an 
evangelical faith i I hope I can truly fay, I approve the 
method of falvation by faith in Chrift. I heartily approve 
the terms of the new covenant, fo far as I underftand 
them. I am heartily willing that God mould have all the 
glory of my redemption by Chrift, of my coriverfion, of 
all my beft fervices, of my higheft hopes and comforts. I 
am willing to lay myfelf in the duft, in a fenfe of my utter 

unworthinefs. 



4§ JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING. D73 1 * 

unworthinefs. I fee and own the unprofitablenefs and ineffi- 
cacy of all my bed duties, my watchfulnefs, felf-denial, humi- 
liation, and forrow for fin, of all myobedience and charity, of 
all my prayers and praifes, to merit divine acceptance, and to 
releafe me from that obligation to punifhment fm hath laid 
me under, much more to juftify me before God, and en- 
title me to the great and glorious rewards propofed and pro- 
mifed in his gofpel. Counting all my own righteoufnefs 
but dung and drofs, I am willing to reach forth an empty 
hand, that I may receive a fealed pardon, and be counted 
righteous through faith, and be accepted in the beloved. 
I would give up my wife, my children, liberty, trade, and 
worldly profits, pleafures, honours, yea, even life itfelf, 
whenever any or all of them may (land in competition 
with Chrift. or with my duty to him. I wuuld devote 
myfelf, my all, entirely to his fervice and honour, and com- 
mit my foul, with all my mod valuable and important inte- 
refts, to his care and keeping. To him alone I defire and 
defign to yield up my departing fpirit, whenever he mail 
pleafe to call me hence. But, alas ! where are the lively 
actings of my faith on Chrift, and his all-fufficient facrifice ? 
A fpirit of floth and (lumber is fallen upon me. The cares 
of this world retard the lively motions of my foul. O 
thou God of the fpirits of all flefh, fend down quickening 
influences from above, that I may ftir up my foul to lay 
hold on thee ! 

JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING. 

Saturday June 19. 173 t. I defire to blefs God, that I 
have been enabled by his grace, for a long time, and particu- 
larly of late, to walk humbly and clofely with him, and have 
had large experience of the afliftance of his Spirit in duty, 

humbling 



OK KEEPING HIMSELF FROM HIS INIQUITY. 49 

humbling me deeply under a fenfe of my weaknefs and in (la- 
bility, (lengthening my faith in Chrift, and drawing out my 
foul in earneft defires after him, and after more abundant 
iupplies of his Spirit and grace. Having now for many 
years enjoyed, with little interruption, a fettled, prevailing, 
and comfortable hope of an intered in Chrift, and in all the 
bleffings and benefits of his purchafe, I received, this morn- 
ing, a refreshing token of my heavenly Father's everlafting 
and unchangeable love, a renewed evidence of his fpecial 
favour, and of my title to the glory that is to be revealed. 
I was enabled to exercife an appropriating faith in the pro- 
mifes, and to be perfuaded, that, as fure as the word of 
God is true, the bleffed reft of the faints remains for me, 
I was enabled to anfwer in the affirmative, humbly appeal- 
ing, even to Omnifcience itfeif, to all the queries, or marks 
of trial, propofed by Mr Baxter, in his Saints Reft. But 
how can my ungrateful foul be fo little, affected with this,, 
and fo much (Iraitened in the high praifes of my gracious 
God, who hath done (o great things for me! Blefs the 
Lord, O my foul, and all that is within me blefs his holy 
name. 

^--c-© * 

ON KEEPING HIMSELF FROM HIS INIQUITY. 

Lord's day, October 22. 1 732. Now, O my foal, after 
hearing an excellent difcourfe on the Pfalmift's declara- 
tion, / have kept my f elf from mine iniquity, conflder and 
inquire what is thy beloved, dry favourite, thy own iniquity*. 
Is it the lufl of uncleannefs P Surely no. I cannot but hope, 
that, many years ago, when at firft I was under awaken- 
ing convictions, luft then received its deadly wound. Is 
it covetoufnefsy or love of the world? I cannot but hope, 
through the grace and good providence of God, this ini- 
* - <pity 



50 ON KEEPING HIMSELF FROM HIS INIQUITY. [l/32. 

quity is in a good meafure fabdued. Is it malice or er.vy P 
As to the former, I am not confcious of having ever in- 
dulged to it againft any perfon in the world. Neither am 
I confcious that the latter is allowed or prevalent; though 
I fear, fome rifings ofit fometimes fliew themfelves, which, 
I humbly hope, I utterly difailow, and fincerely ftrive 
againfl. But is it not pride P Verily, I have reafon to think 
this is the Jin that does fo eajily bejel me. Well then, O 
my foul, is it not neceffary for me to fet a diligent watch 
over this favourite fin? And may it not be ufeful to con- 
fider the feveral ways by which this fin exerts itfelf, that I 
may the better guard againfl it. I think pride difccvers 
itfelf very much in angry rtfentmenis ; chiefly againfl: my 
fervants, for injuries, flights, neglects, whether real or ap- 
prehended. Anger feldom rifes in me againfl my children, 
but too often towards my fervants. How eafily is my fpirit 
ruffled by the awkvvardnefs of fervants, and by their doing 
bufinefs unfaithfully or negligently; though, I hope, not fo 
often, nor fo eafily, nor to fuch intemperate degrees, as 
formerly. But, O my foul, let me not be partial to ray- 
felf, nor in the leafl connive at rath anger. I was helped, 
la ft year, by reading Sibb's Soul's Conflict My fpirit was 
fo tamed, my haughtinefs fo reproved and brought dowa, 
and I gained fuch a command over my humours and pat 
lions, for many weeks, that I was then convinced, it is 
poflible for me to keep this choleric fpirit of mine ah. 
under a due regulation and a religious restraint. I may pre- 
ferve and maintain a calm, quite, meek fpirit amidil what- 
ever provocations; but not without the conftant exercifeof 
great watchfulnefs, folemn meditation, and fervent prayer. 
And here I record this teflimony againfl myfelf, if ever 
unbridled paiiions fhould tranfport me into any indecencies 
hereafter, that it is for want of a due exercife of one or 
more of thefe important duties. Pride often difcovers it- 
.felf by vain o/kntatjon. Alas! how^ much of this is found 



HOW PIOUS INCLINATION'S PP.EVAIL. 51 

in me ! Oftentation of learning amongft men of learning, 
oftentation of piety amongft pious men, oftentation of gifts 
in prayer, oftentation of being confiderable in trade amongft 
tradefmen, oftentation of acquaintance with gentlemen, are 
the kinds and ways in which my pride is ftill too much re- 
conquered. O how weak and foolifh ; sth;s! In how ridi- 
culous a light doth this fet me in the eyes of the judicious! 
How much mere cifpleafing to an holy God, who requires 
me to be clothed with humility! O my fcul. guard againft: 
this vanity! Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth, keep 
the door of my lips. Doth not pride often difcover itfelf 
in my thoughts by an over-valuing opinion and conceit of 
myfelf, my attainments and excellencies, my worth and im- 
portance! Had I not feme fuch Workings of mind lately, 
when one elder than myfelf was called to ferve in an offices 
which I expected? Did I not think myfelf abetter, a fitter 
man than he? Did I not then entertain fears left I fhculd 
not be called next? I endeavoured, indeed, to iupprefs 
fuch workings, and to fatisfy myfelf that fuch and fuch 
were older, and might juftly be accounted worthy of pre- 
cedency. Lord, help me to mortify all finful ambition* 
and in honour to prefer others before myfelf, and never to 
be impatient of feeing others rifing above me in any refpeft* 

HOW PIOUS INCLINATIONS BECOME PREVALENT. 

Saturday^ February 1. 1734. I am confidering how 
far my will governs my affections, paffions and practice,, 
and how far it is paffive, and how far free. When I call 
to mind, what was the habitual, prevailing difpofition of 
my mind in my youth ; what an impetuous propenfity I 
had to youthful lufts; what a prevailing fway the love of 
carnal pleafures had over my will and all my power?,* 
When I farther recoiled*, by what means the current of 

E 2 iqs: 



52 HOW PIOUS INCLINATIONS PREVAIL [*734" 

my foul was altered, and the bias of my will changed ; 
fometimes by a roufing fermon; fcmetimes by a feafonable 
word of advice or reproof from my father, or other Chrif- 
tian friend; fometimes by an awakening providence; at ano- 
ther time by a ftrong impulfe on my mind, difpofing me in 
the moft ferious manner to inquire into the (late of my 
foul, and what preparation I had made for death, and how 
I could (land before the judgment-feat of Chrlft, in cafe I 
mould be called away that day or that night; which confi- 
derations fometimesexcited me to redeem time for reading, 
and to pray earneftly to God for the pardon of my fins, 
and for a renewed heart: I fay, when I call ta mind thefe 
things, and how a love to God and Chrifi:, and holinefs 
gradually obtained an afcendency in my foul, I cannot but 
afcribe that wonderful change wrought upon my will, and 
the various fteps towards it, to the free grace of God, 
and the powerful influences of the Holy Spirit. But muft 
I therefore conclude, that in every individual act of mine, 
I am merely actuated by fom-e fuperior, invifible power? 
Or, that in every religious act, fo far as it is done agree- 
ably to the will of God, I am influenced by the fame good 
Spirit, whofe a IS (lance or agency is at other times with- 
held, or afforded in a lower meafure or degree? Doth the 
difference, the great and wide difference, I find in the frame 
of my heart in religious ejxercifes, at one time or another, 
proceed merely from the difference of fupernatural aid ! 
Doth it nol^ in fome meafar*, arife from the difference of 
my own- actual preparation for the duty before-hand, or 
from a difference in my active exertion of my rational 
powers in the work? Doth that better preparation itfelf 
proceed from fome fjperior agent? Who (hall folve thefe 
difficulties? Be thou diligent, O my foul, to work out thy 
own falvation with fear and trembling; and fo much the 
rather, becaufe it is God that worketh iri thee both to will 



and to do of his £ood pleafure. 



THOUGHTS 



THOUGHTS ON APPARITIONS.. £3" 



THOUGHTS ON APPARITIONS. 
Thurfday evening, November 7. 1734. In the twilight 
this evening I took a folitary walk in the church-yard*, 
there to converfe a little with the dead. After ferioufly 
reflecting a while on my own mortality, the important 
change which hath pafTed on all thofe tabernacles of clay 
that lie mouldering there, and which ere long muft pafs 
upon mine, as the darknefs increafed, I felt fome approaches 
of foolifh fear, and therefore began to mufe on the unrea- 
fonablenefs of fearing the fight .of apparitions. What can 
I poflibly imagine mould appear to me ? It muft either bz 
a good or a bad angel, or c\fc a feparate human fpirit, or 
any one of thofe inverted with fome vifible form. Indeed 
the vifible prefence of either of thefe, but efpecially the 
former, might well pofTefs my foul with dread and terror. 
But fuppofe a good angel fliould appear to me ; it muft be. 
at the command of our common Lord, whom, I humbly 
hope, I adore and love, though alas! too faintly, too cool- 
ly. Such appearance muft be under the direction of him, 
who, I humbly hope, is my reconciled God and Father in 
Chrift Jefus. What have I then to fear from fuch a mef- 
fenger? It muft be on fome wife, fome kind and gracious 
defign. 1 doubt not, I have been favoured with the pro- 
tection of fuch a glorious agent, and have had many kind 
offices done for me by one or mare of thofe miniftering fpi= 
rits, who muft therefore be near me oftentimes, though in- 
vifible. I doubt not, 1 have received many a friendly hint 
from fuch a gentle monitor, refpecting both my heavenly 
and fecular calling. Do I need then to fear, or why 
mould 1 tremble at the appearance of fo benevolent a being, 
in whofe fociety I hope to fpend eternal ages? Do I not 
firmly believe, do I not know myfelf to be a dying crea- 
turej that in a little time this frame of nature fhall be 
E 3 diflblved ? . 



54 THOUGHTS OS APPARITIONS. L ! 7 : - 

difTolved, and my fpirit take her flight into the world of 
fpirits ? And. have I not the glorious hope of dwelling for 
ever in the immediate prefence of God, and of being for 
ever happy in the light of his countenance ? Doth not the 
joyful expectation of having an innumerable company of 
angels for my evedafling afibciates, afford me a delightful 
profpect.? Why then fhould the apprehenfion of fach a 
vifion, even in the prefent ftate, produce in me any dif- 
quieting dread or confirmation ? But fuppofe a fallen 
angel, yea Satan himfelf, mould appear to me in as fright- 
ful a form as my imagination can poffibly paint ; do I not 
believe, and am I not infallibly certain, that he can neither 
affume fuch a form, nor make it vifible to me, without the_ 
divine permiffion ? Hath not the infinitely wife and good 
God every one of thofe curfed. fiends in his chain ? What 
have I then to fear, even from thofe avowed enemies of 
God, of angels and men, fmce they can do no mifchief 
of any kind, nor hurt any one of God's creatures, farther 
than he ufeth them as the miniuers of his vengeance ? 
Holy angels, who excel in ftrength, exult and triumph 
over all the rage of devils, being fupericr to all their ma- 
lice, and invulnerable by all their heliiih darts. And 
1 not rejoice and confide in this,, that if God is my Eather 
and Friend in Chrift, greater is he that is in me, and with 
me, than he that is in the world, the prince of the power 
of the air, that roaring lion which walketh about, feeking 
whom he may devour ? Wherever I am, is not God more 
furely there ? O Lord of boils, bleffed is the man that 
trufteth in thee, that fincerely repenteth of every known 
fin, and by faith and prayer feeks to be juitified by Chrifl's 
righteoufnefs, and to be fancrified by the Holy Spirit. 
God, who cannot lie, hath promifed eternal life to fuch. 
Do not thefe. confederations quiet and pacify my conference? 
And what have I then to fear from Satan i z The ap- 
pearance of a departed feu 1 , affirming ancl actuating fame 



THOUGHTS ON APPARITIONS. 55 

vliible form, cannot be more dangerous-, nor carry in it 
any thing more terrible, than that of a fallen angel. I have 
certainly a fecret prevailing averfion to the fight of one of 
thefe ; and I doubt not but fach a fight, were I alone, and 
apprized what it is, would fill me with unufual con fter na- 
tion. Whence doth this proceed ? Is it not chiefly from 
the weaknefs of my faith ? And particularly, is it rot 
from a want of converfing more, in my meditations and 
ferious reflections, with the inhabitants of the invifibk 
world ? How necefiary is it, in order to a complete pre- 
paration for death, and an entire victory over it, to get 
thofe fears conquered, by an overcoming faith in the pro- 
mifes, the power, and the prefence of God and Chrift ! 
For when 1 clofe my eyes in death, mall I not imme- 
diately open my immortal eyes in the world of Spirits ? 
Shall I not then behold new forms, converfe with flrange 
unknown beings, and find myfelf furrounded with innu- 
merable inhabitants of the ethereal regions ? How can 
I hope to keep the poffeffion of myfelf then, if I am 
overwhelmed with the dread of fuch an appearance now ? 
What helps can I expect or hope then, which are not at 
hand now ? Do I hope for the prefence of Chrift: in and 
after death ; and is he not as ready to help and relieve his 
fervants in their diftreffes now? Do I hope for a convoy 
of angels to attend and guard my fleeting fpirit in its 
pafTage up to the realms of glory ; and are they not (e.nt 
forth now, to mini fter to the heirs of falvation ? It is true, 
thofe heavenly guards are now invisible, who then will be 
vifible to my fpiritual fight, and I may then fee myfelf 
furrounded with powerful friends. But where is now my 
faith r Is not faith the evidence of things not feen ? Have 
I not now a fare word of promife, on- which my foul 
may fecurely reft? Fortify thyfelf, therefore, O my foul, 
zgainft all thefe grcundiefs fears. Thy place of defence, 
«&ereyci3 thou art, (hail be ftrcnger than the munition of 

rocks.. 



$6 THE DEATH OF A CHILD. [ x 73£»- 

rocks. Exercife a lively faith on the infallible promifes 
and immutable oath of God. Reft upon the divine all- 
fufficiency. Confide in the prefence and protection of 
God, and Chrifr, and good angels. Keep a confcience 
void of offence. Be much in converfe and communion 
with the Father and his Son Jefus Chrift. Suffer no 
eftrangement of thy heart from thy beft Friend ; but com- 
mit the keeping of thy foul to him in well-doing, as unto 
a faithful Creator j and of thy body too, nor doubt his 
protecting care.. 

<^o-© 

THE DEATH OF A CHILD. 

Wednefdayt June 4. 1 735. I would now be found 
inquiring ferioufly, how I (hall improve this fevere difpen- 
fation of Providence, and what confiderations may be of 
ufe to reconcile my mind to it. — As the creature and pro- 
perty of God, may he not do with my child what he will ? 
I have no prevailing doubt but that me is fallen afleep in 
jefus. My gracious and good God enabled me to give 
and devote her to him in baptifm, as well as many times 
fince that, and particularly very often in her laft illnefs. 
I hope, I have been upright and fincere in dedicating her 
to God. I hope, I have been truly earneft and fervent 
in my prayers and fapplications to God for her life, if it 
were agreeable to his blefied will ; and that, if Infinite 
Wifdom had" Other wile determined, fhe might be ready for 
her great change. If I have reafon to hope, that, in my 
meafure, I have been faithful in the difcharge of my duty, 
fure I have no reafon to diftruft the goodnefs and faithful- 
fiefs of God, and his readinefs to fhew mercy. When 
our Lord fays, Suffer little children to come unto me, and 
forbid them not 7 for of fuch U the kingdom of heaven , I un- 
derhand 



THE DEATH OF A CHILD. 57 

derftand him to mean, both that little children are capable 
of receiving benefit byChrift, and that the fubmiffion, 
humility, and meeknefs ufually found in little children, in 
oppofition to the pride, felfconceit, and felf-confmence 
too generally prevalent in adult perfons, is the temper of 
the gofpel, the temper of all its difciples, the temper fiif- 
ceptible of religious imprefnons, and the temper which 
the Holy Spirit forms in the heart, to conftitute perfons 
proper fubjects of the Redeemer's kingdom. May I not 
from hence derive fome hope concerning my dear child's 
eternal ftate? How fubmifiive and obliging was her gene- 
ral temper and behaviour ! How dutiful to her parents ! 
How ready to comply with the will and inclinations of 
her fitters ! How (tudious to pleafe ! How tender of fin- 
ring ! What indignation hath (he often difcovered, when 
her fchool-fellows have uttered profane words 1 What a 
meafure of the fear of God, and even of truft in him, did 
the difcover, when, at three years old, in a ftorm of thun- 
der and lightning, fhe once and again, of her own accord, 
had recourfe to prayer! Can I doubt of the grace of God 
in her, or that fhe reaps no advantage from a Redeemer ?— 
Shall we receive good at the hands of the Lord, and 
ihall we not alfo receive evil ? He hath not written us 
childlefs. Thou, Lord, haft punifhed us lefs than our ini- 
quities deferve. 

Hath death, with awful terrors arnVd, 

Been waiting at the door ; 
And ravifh'd hence a pleafant babe, 

Whofe charms delight no more ? 

How fliall we bear the fmarting flroke 

With a fubmiflive frame ! ' 
How well improve the providence? 

And profit by the fame ! 

Lord* 



58 MEDITATION AMONG THE TOMBS. C X 735' 

Lord, 'tis thy hand, thy fovereign power 

Form'd the dear living bud ; 
The holy, juft, almighty word 

Commands her flefli to duft. 

Far heavier ftrokes our fins deferve, 

If thou mould ft be fevere ; 
Patient, (ubmiffive, all-refigned, 

Thy juft rebuke we'll bear 

What tho' the lovely mortal die, 

And perifli from our fight ? 
By faith we trace the nobler mind 

Up to the worlds of light. 

See the great Judge, tvith afpect mild, 

With pleafure in his face, 
Welcome and hail the new-come gueft, 

While heaven applauds the grace. 

See kindred minds, who went before. 

Triumphant flock around, 
"While to their golden harps they finj 

Tunes of immortal found. 

O may we keep th? ethereal road, 

Led on by grace divine 1 
Then (hall we quickly go to them, 

And in their praifes join. 

MEDITATION AMONG THE TOMBS. 

Saturday, September 27. 1 735. After an erening walk 
in the church-yard, what a fight have I had! A field fet. 
thick with monuments of the dead. Yet there are but 
few monuments, compared with the number of the dead 

that 



MEDITATION AMONG THE TOMBS. 59 

that lie there. Mod of thofe (tones were erected fince my 
remembrance, and perhaps not one ftone for 20, 30, or 
40 that have been buried. What a crowded fpot will this 
be at the refurrection ! What a plentiful nan-eft will it 
yield! Numerous, though not numberlefs. Every one of 
them is known to the Lord the Judge. Every name is 
regiftered in his book of remembrance. Not one (hall ftay 
behind in the grave. Not one will be miffing, whofe bones 
have been deroiited here. How numerous will the colony 
be, which will be gathered from Kidderminfter church- 
yard! Suppofe this ifland of Great Britain not to have been 
peopled till 500 years after the flood, and that 100 have 
been buried here every year, one year with another, from 
that period, it will amount, in the fpace of 3500 years, to 
an army of 350,000. If fuch a parifh as this may be fup- 
pofed to yield fo many, what will Great Britain and Ire- 
land produce r If I reckon this parifh, either as to its extent, 
or number of inhabitants, to be about the thoufandth part 
cf thefe three kingdoms, I may compute the three king- 
rs to yield, in 3500 years, at leaft three hundred and 
■ millions. And what will *he product of thefe iilands 
be, daring fr.ch a period, compared with that of the whole 
earth? May I not fjppofe all the dead of the whole earth, 
v/ithin the faid 35CO years, to be rgore than twenty thou- 
fand millions? Now, O my foul, ftretch thine imagination 
to the utmofr, and conhder, how boundlefs is that mind, 
how infinite that underftanding, which perfectly knows and 
recollects every individual of mankind, with the thoughts, 
words, and actions of each, the time of their birth, the 
length of their days, all the tracfadtions of their lives, 
and the time, manner and circumftances of their death. 
How eafily can he feparate and collect their fcattered 
atoms! What work will this be for almighty creating power, 
to rebuild their ruined tabernacles, and form them fplritual 
and immortal! What bufy work will here be for glorious 

angels, 



6q meditation among the tombs. C J 7 3 5 • 

angels, to collect this vafl afTembly, and prefent them be- 
fore the univerfal Judge! But when I confider holy angels 
as ten thoufand times ten thoufand, and thoufands of thou- 
fands, perhaps as many as one hundredth part of the whole 
human race, this thought tends to facilitate my conception 
of the eafe and regularity of fuch collection. The word 
of God allures us, that the dead in Chrift mall rife firil. 
The fleeping dull of faints alone mail hear the firfl blaft 
of the archangel's trumpet, and awake to joyful life. With 
what rapture will fuch awakened faints behold their exalted 
Redeemer, who lored them unto the death, and whom ha- 
ving not feen they loved ! How happy the re-union between 
the myriads of perfect fpirits, which God will bring with 
him, and the bodies which they laid down fo pale, fqua- 
lid and ghaftly, or were torn from them by torturing racks, 
or confuming flames, but now refined, adorned and beau- 
tified! How will each glorified fpirit admire its own comely 
form, and fay of its divine clothing, O the change from 
what I once was! But whatever remembrance they will 
have of their former meannefs and mifery, and even of their 
former pollution and guilt, yet all tormenting fenfe cf it 
will be for ever banifhed. Will their fmiling Judge up- 
braid them with their pall ficklenefs and inconltancy, their 
lukewarmnefs in his fervice, and their manifold backfiidings, 
or with their pufillanimity and want of zeal in his caufe? 
Rather, will not infinite charity cover the multitude of their 
fins? How will they then know more fenfibly than ever, 
that all this glory with which they are' inverted, is the prot 
pedt of boundlefs grace! O how triumphant their joy, to 
find that all this glory, with all its never-ending progrefs 
and increafe, was prepared for them from the foundation 
of the world! 

PIOUS 



PIOUS FRIENDSHIP- 



U 



PIOUS FRIENDSHIP. 
[His brother Pearfall, under the character of Damon, ad- 
dreffed him under that of Pythias, while he was on his 
northern journey in February 1736, to whom Mr Wil- 
liams replied foon after his return. The former was in- 
ferted in the Gentleman's Magazine for March 1736* 
and the latter in that for the May following.] 

Damon to Pythias. 
While far from toils your Damon fits fecurM, 
From ruffling ftorms and rattling hail immur'd; 
While eafy flumbers blefs my downy bed, 
And friends and health their fofteft influence fhed; 
While glowing fires correct th' inclement fky, 
And wife and children with their charms fit by; 
Pathetic thoughts my Pythias dill purfue, 
Whom ftorms attack, and northern winds bedew. 

The mufe e'en fhudders, while fhe would rehearfe 
The toijs you bear, and rigours fill the verfe. 
Fain would fhe follow, with her wings out-fpread, 
Fond of encircling that important head, 
And thinks (h^ (till could follow where you lead. 
But ah! fuch nights her fancied pow'rs exceed; 
Affection prompts, but ftronger wings fhe'll need. 
Forward fhe fprings to join her abfent friend, 
Eager through all his trav'ling toils t' attend. 
But fee, fhe ftruggling droops, with languor bends, 
Her fangume hope in difappointment ends. 

Yet, while I mourn the dreary waftes you tread, 
Paufe on your ftorms without a friendly made ; 
While full of fears the fpreading floods I view, 
And fympathizing tears my cheeks bedew; 
While exhalations clog the ambient air, 
And on their wings unwholefome vapours bear; 

* ' F Whil 



? 



6z PIOUS FRIENDSHIP. [ x 73<5. 

While o ? er the lonefome rocks and vales you pafs, 

G'erfprcad with frofts, and flippery as glafs; 
With bended knees my ardent vows afcend, 

That guardian angels may your fteps attend, 

In all your dangers lend their friendly arm, 

To guide, your doubtful way fecure from harm. 

When nature fickens, and the god of day 

Is found too weak to drive the fogs away, 

May thefe kind guards their friendly wings o'erfpread ? 

Defend, fupport, and cheer your drooping head; 

Bid ftorms be calm, let zephyrs only rife, 

With balmy wings to fan the foggy fkies. 

In vain the infant fpring its beauties fheds, 
In vain fits brooding on the flowery beds, 
Flora m vain enamels all my ground, 
In vain the primrofe fpreads its fragrance round, 
In vain the violet, with its beauteous hue, 
Peeps out of nature's womb in mantle blue. 
— All this is nothing, till I hear of you. 

What though the airy fongfters tune their throats-, 
And court mine ear with their once charming notes? 
What though the lambkins, innocent and gay, 
Frifk round me, and untaught their gambols play? 
Methinks 'tis winter ftill, while fad I mourn, 
My Pythias ftill protracls his wifh'd return. 

Pythias to Damon, 

From toilfome travels fafe returned at laft, 
The boift'rous ftorms and threat'ning dangers paft, 
Warm in th ? embraces of my deareft fpoufe, 
(HeavVs gift, propitious to my youthful vows), 
And fondly welcom'd, on my fafe return, 
By my fweet babes, whofe tranfports mutual burn; 
To gentle Damon, Pythias greeting fends, 
Charm'd with that love which to my toils attends. 

The 



i 



PIOUS FRIENDSHIP. 6$ 

The mufe e'en triumphs, with fuch friend fhip bled, 
Which lays the florms, and calms my ruffled breall. 
Suclnpious friendship! whence devotion fprings, 
And from above the needful faccour brings. 
Heav'n heard your vows, and gave me flrength to bear 
The piercing regions of th' inclement air. 

How could my Damon, whom Roefido loves, 
Whofe lays the matchiefs Philomel approves, 
To ruftic Pythias humbly condefcend, 
And generous love, where merit fails, extend ? 
BJeft day ! when pleafing bands our hearts ally'd, 
Made you a brother, Phebe made my bride. 

But what are nature's bands, or ties of blood, 
What the precarious ties of brotherhood, 
To friendfhip's facred cement, fweet and ftrong, 
Whofe clofe attraction draws the foul along ? 
When with my Damon's graceful prefence bleftj 
My foul exults and hails the welcome guefr. 
Your cordial fpeech my drooping fpirit cheers, 
Renews my courage, and difpels my fears, 
My thinking powers on nobler themes employs, 
Inflames my love, and animates my joys. 
So the paich'd earth, refrefh'd by gentle fhow'rs,. 
Smiles and more glad difplays the op'ning flow'rs.- 
Your abfence chills my heart* but while I weep, 
Your letters come, and all my forrows fleep. 
What wit, what beauty, truth and goodnefs, ihinei 
What love pathetic in each tuneful line \ 
My mufe with feeble voice attempts in vain 
To ling your friendfnip with an equal drain. 
My doors, to men of virtue, open (land, 
My choiceft (lores, myfelf, they may command : 
But to my friend, I'll open e'en my heart \ 
To you the fecrets of my foul impart y 

f 2 m 



64 VERSES TO A FRIEND L l *Ji^ a 

Ml tell you all my flate, you'll footh my woes, 
Your balmy lips my bleeding wounds fhall clofe, 
Solve all my doubts, my thrilling griefs allay, 
Improve my joys, and chafe fad cares away. 
O how I long t' embrace my abfent friend ! 
Fly fwift, ye hours, my Damon to me fend. 
Full twenty moons die tirefome diftance tell, 
Since parting hence, you bid a dear farewell. 
But now the wintry ftorms are over-blown, 
The chilling mows, and rigid frofts are gone ; 
Boon nature now exerts her genial pow'rs, 
The verdant fields are deck'd with fragrant flow'rs, 
New profpecls in fucceffion court your eye, 
Trees in full bloffom, and of various dye, 
Unnumber'd beauties (hall rejoice and fmile, 
And charming fylvan fcenes your fleps beguile, 
The warbling birds fhall cheer the lonefome glade ? 
And ev'ry ev'ning chant a ferenade. 
Your friends impatient chide your ling'ring flay, 
Then hade, my Damon> hafte, and come away. 

VERSES TO A FRIEND RECOVERED FROtvI ILLNESS. 

[His friend had been afflicted with exquifite pains, and 
brought very nigh to the grave. The verfes on this 
occafion were inferted in the Gentleman's Magazine 
for Auguft 1736.] 
Believe me, Sir, 'twas fad, 'twas mocking news, 
The fudden anguifh wrung my inmoft foul — 

" Your friend Alexis dies!" 
Through ev'ry vein the thrilling accents roll 5 
Fm ftruck with infinite furprife; 
Whil'ft fympathizing tears my gufhing eyes fufFufe. 



RECOVERED FROM ILLNESS, % 

The dear Alexis die! my joy, my friend! 
Kind heav'n avert the fatal ftroke, 
That precious life reftore ; 
The rigid fentence, mighty grace revoke; 
On bended knees the mercy we implore, 
Let mercy from on high the needful fuccour fend* 

Indulgent Heav'n regards cur humble vows, 
Joy to my heart ! thy threat'ning pains furteafe ; 

The dear Alexis lives! 
That languid pale which fat upon his brows 
Retires, whilit, rofy tinctures now increafe, 
And in his fparkling eyes the lamp of life revives. 

Ah! wifely yet refolve this folemn thought,-^- 
" Had racking pangs prevail'd, and death enfu'd? 

" Where had my foul been found:" 
Life is the time, when pardon mud be fought: 
Death and the grave repentance quite exclude; 
There's no device, nor work, nor wifdom underground. 

Think, when you felt your ftrength and fpirits fail, 
And lay convuls'd in agonizing pain, 
With death in dreaded view; 
How little then could pomp or wealth avail I 
Earth's fond delights and fenfual joys how vain, 
When th? ever-parting foul mud bid them all adieu I 

Reflect — what cheer'd you mod in that diftrefs ? 
What fins the trembling confidence raoft appall'd ? 

What were your hopes and fears? 
How gladly time mifpent you wifli'd recall'd ? 
What did you feek, what count your happinefs ? 
And what refolve, if fpar'd to future months or years ? 

Come then— what work remains for life to do, 
Whatever is wanting in your faith or love* 
To crown your hope, your toy y 

F 3: Wlm 



66 WHETHER GOD OR THE WORLD 1*737' 

With utmoft might and doubled ftrength purfue: 
Let no delay the ftedfaft purpofe move, 
Nor worldly charms or cares your heavenly zeal alloy, 

WHETHER GOD OR THE WORLD WAS HIS PORTION. 

Lord's day, July 24, 1737. After hearing a difccurfe 
on the Pfalniift's inquiry and determination, Whom have 
I in heaven hut thee F and there is none upon earth that I 
defire be/ides thee ; inquire thou, O my foul, and inquire 
with the greater!: ftridrnefs and impartiality. This is a 
matter on which depends my prefent comfort and everlaft- 
ing happinefs. To deceive myfelf in this important con- 
cern^ is putting the worft cheat that is poiTible on myfelf. 
What a dreadful furprife muft. it be to the foul, that hath 
deluded itfelf with vain hopes, even unto the hour of its 
departure hence, to meet a frowning God, and hear that {tun- 
ning accent, I know you not whence you are, depart from me? 
Therefore, O my foul, fearch diligently. Examine well 
thy evidences. Let conscience fpeak freely; I hope, it is 
rightly informed ; bribe it not into filence ; nor pervert it 
to give a falfe evidence, either by palliating thy fins and 
corruptions, or magnifying thy good works and difpoS- 

tions. What is my heart fet moft upon, this world, or 

God ? I muft: not diiTemble or deny, that a care for and 
delight in my wife and children, a care to make the bed 
advantage of my trade, and to render my prefent life eafy 
and pleafant, have mod of my thoughts. Yet, I humbly 
hope, yea iurely in this I may be confident, by the expe- 
rience now of 27 years, but more remarkably of the laft 1 2 
years, that the love and favour of God is what I prize 
above all things; that to walk in the light of his countenance y 
is the higheft felicity I either enjoy, or hope for, in the 

prefent 



WAS HIS PORTION. 67 

pre Tent ftate; and to dwell for ever in his glorious prefence, 
is the higheft of my future hopes and expectations. Though 
my confcience blames me for many defects in my obedience 

• and care to pleafe God ; though it reproaches me for many 
Omiffions of fecret duty, and many fad neglects in the perform- 
ance of duties of every kind; all which mayjuftly lead me to 
call in queftion the fincerity and predominance of my love to 
God; yeWt alfo witneffeth, that in general I am more foli- 
citous to pleafe God than any befides him ; and that I never 
have fuch enjoyment of my felf, as when I do the things 
that pleafe him ; nor any joy like that which flows from 
a fenfe of his approbation and love. In all my wants, I 
fly to him for fupply. In all my perplexities, I feek to 
him for counfel. In every diftrefs, he is my refuge and 
ftrength. Under all my pains and indifpofitions of body, 
my hope, my help is in the great Phyfician ; I look unto him 
as the firft caufe, obferve his hand in appointing, directing, 
and limiting them, and endeavour humbly to inquire into 
the meaning and defign of it, and wherefore God contend- 
eth with me. In like manner, would I be found eyeing the 
hand of God in every lofs, whether in trade, or by the 
death of a child, or other dear relation. When viewed 
in that light, I may truly fay, it hath never been very dif- 
ficult to me to fubmit, how fevere foever afflictions have 
been, and whatfoever their nature or kind. I have found 
rriy faith in him, a fenfe of his love, and a prevailing hope 
that he is my God, a full fjpport under my great eft bur- 
dens. I have enjoyed a fatisfying affurance, that if I were 
{tripped of every worldly good, I might poffefs all in him 
alone. Confcience is my witnefs, that now, in the fulnefs 
of worldly good things, and in the profpect of making fome 
confiderable provifion for my family j I would be found 

"- referring my profperity to his blefling on my endeavours* 
Frequently my heart is lifted up in thankfulnefs to my 
bountiful Benefa&or. It is patter of grief to me, when I 

want 



63 WHETHER GOI> OR THE WORLD C x 73/» 

want the cheering tokens of his gracious prefence, and the 
quickening influences of his good Spirit. But when his 
Jove is ilied abroad in my heart, (and bleffed be his name, 
many fuch delicious repairs he hath indulged me with) 
the fenfe of it eclipfes all the beauties and glories of the 
v/orld in my efteem. I can fay with Dr Watts, 

M One gracious fmile, my God, from thee, 

" One kind, forgiving word, 
"Is more than all the world to me, 

" 'Twill greater joy afford. '* 

From all which, I cannot but hope, my heart is fet mod 

upon God What is the main defign and bufinefs of my 

life? Any common fpeclator, who only fees and hears my 
genera] converfation, could not fee reafon to conclude, that 
I minded any thing fo much as the profits and pleafures of 
this life. I mud: confers, they have too much of my heart, 
they occupy too much of my time and thoughts. Yet me- 
thinks I would be found living for, and chiefly intending 
a nobler end than fcnfual gratifications. I cannot fay, that 
my active obedience and fervice, my exercife of felf-denial, 
and mortification, on all proper occafions, do fo clearly 
evince, as I could wifli, that the glory of God is the main 
end and defign of my life. But though the evidence be too 
obfcure, I cannot but hope neverthelefs, that I have no 
other end, which fv/ays fo much with me. It is the grief 
of my foul, when I reflect on any thing I have done to dif- 
pleafe God, or difiionour his holy religion. My forrow 
is frirred, when I fometimes obferve the ignorance and 
wickednefs of others, and more efpecially if I fee the Lord*s 
day, or here the Lord's name profaned. It is a pleafure 
to me, when I have an opportunity of doing good to others* 
and efpecially to thofe of the houihold of faith. I think, 
I base often found, that I ftiould be content to be poor, 

to 



WAS HIS PORTION. 69 

to be defpifed, to fuffer the lofs of all things, yea to be as 
feverely tried as Job was, if it were the will of God, and 
that I might have grace equal to my day, and a revenue of 
glory might arife to the great Author of my being. I find, 
I can freely part with my money to feed the poor, or to fup» 
port the intereft of the gofpel, and blefs God for enabling 
me to give willingly. I have not for many years been fcli- 
citious for long life, but have kept my end much in view, 
and looked upon preparation for death as the great bufinefs 
of life, and, though very defective, I hope, I have been 
fincere therein. Defirous of fome competent provifion for 
my family, in cafe I mould be taken away from them, yet 
I am not confcious of any great folicitude about it, having 
experienced in myfelf, my brothers and filters, that God 
can and will provide for us, if we are found in the way of 
duty. But I would be chiefly folicitous to train up my 
children in the fear of God, to fee Chrift formed in them, 
and leave a divine bleffing entailed upon them. From all 
which I would humbly hope, that it is the main end and 

bufinefs of my life to pleafe and glorify God. And 

now, which would I rather part with, God or the world ? 
In this, I think, I can be more clear and certain. In- 
deed, how I mould (land the fiery trial, were I called to 
it, is hard to fay. The thought of it is terrible. But God 
is all-fufricient ; and from the experience I have had of di- 
vine confolations, am well allured he is able to bear up the 
fainting fpirit under the fevered torments, to which this 
flefh of mine can be expo fed. As for giving up a good 
trade, rather than a good conference, or parting with riches, 
honours, pleafures, wife, children, and all my deareft 
earthly enjoyments, I humbly hope, the cafe is more plain ; 
yea, that I can do all things through Chrift which ftrength- 
eneth me. I defire to afcribe the glory and praife of all 
attainments to the free grace of God in Chrift, acknow* 
lodging that by the grace of God I am what I am. 

DEVOUT 



*]0 DEVOUT RETIREMENT FROM THE WOULD. [l737« 



DEVOUT RETIREMENT FROM THE 'WORLD. 

Saturday evening, Juy 30- I 737. Retire now, O my 
- louJ, fromanoify, bufy world, a world of various employ- 
ments and manifold temptations, to converfe a little with 
tlvyfelf. Hov/ dear, O my foul, ihould tby intereits be to 
me, how much more fo than the interefh of my body ! I 
have done fomething thefe two or three laft weeks, which 
I have reafon to believe, will conduce much to my world- 
ly advantage, and how much am I pleated with the the: . . 
I have heard this week fomething, which will probably be 
very prejudicial to my worldly interests, and how many 
contrivances have I had to prevent the evils apprehended! 
And is not my foul's profperity or adverfity of greater mo- 
ment to me? I (hall be judged one day by him, who trieth 
the reins and hearts, who will render to every man accord- 
ing to his works, and can I be unconcerned how I (hall pais 
the folemn teft! Am I not confeious of many defects in the 
government of my paffions, in the temper of my heart, and 
in my behaviour both towards God and man ? Kow fhall I 
(land then, to have my whole life impartially fifted, examined, 
and laid open ! I fly to the blood of atonement, and humbly 
feek (helter and refuge from devouring wrath, in the bofoni 
of my all-fufncient Saviour. I know he is able to fave to 
the uttermoft all that come unto God through him. I know 
that his compaffion is zo^c\ to his power, for he will not 
break the bruifed reed. Yet I cannot bat fear, lead in the 
day of trial my faith fhould fail. Sometimes I have had 
fuch a lively fenfe and convincing evidence of his power, 
goodnefs, and faithfulnefs, as alfo of my intereit in him, 
that I have thought I could have lur.g with as much cheer- 
fulnefs as good old Simeon, Noiu let thyfirvant depart in 
peace. Soon have I been convinced, that my frrer rth an 1 

courses 



GOB TE3.RIELE TO GUILTY SOULS. ^I 

courage rife or fall in proportion to divine aids; that it is 
God who ftrengthens me with might by his Spirit in the 
inner man ; and that without Chrift I can do nothing. Reft 
thyfelf, therefore, O my foul, at all times, upon his grace, 
who is able to keep thee from falling, and to preferve thee 
fclamelefs unto his heavenly kingdom. 

GOD TERHIBLE TO GUILTY SOULS. 

Lord's day, July 31. 1737. I have been hearing the 
terrors of the divine Majefty to guilty fouls reprefented from 
thofe words of Job, Therefore am I troubled at his prefence, 
when I confider, I am afraid of him. Nov/, my foul, what 
is thy temper: I fear this great and terrible Majefty. — 
I fear him for his greatnefs, who is able to cafl me, both 
body and foul, into hell, and might have juftly done fo 
long fince. I can fay, the fear of him doth, in fome mea- 
fure, fwallow up all other fear. Though I mud: acknow- 
ledge, the fear of man, the fear of fname, and the fear of 
temporal lofs, hath often proved a great fbare to me; yet, 
fo far as I remember, I can fay, and to the glory of God 
be it fpoken, when the fin was obvious, the guilt evident, 
into which fuch meaner fear would have betrayed me, then, 
on the contrary, the fear of God, the fear of difpleafing 
and difhonouring him, hath been found the fuperior, the 
predominant principle in my foul. My courage and zeal 
have been enabled to trample upon all oppofition and fcorn, 
in the face of apparent danger, for the caufe of God, of 
virtue and religion. — I hope, I can alio fay, I fear him 
for his gdodnefs. A fenfe of gratitude to him is an obliga- 
tion upon me. I have had fach tafles, fuch experience of 
his goodnefs and grace, that I fear doing any thing to for- 
feit his gracious prefence, and caufe him to withdraw from 

me. 



*}Z GOD TERRIBLE TO GUILTY SOULS. [*737 

me. I fear doing any thing to grieve his Holy Spirit, and 
prevent his cheering and quickening influences. I fear 
doing any thing to wound or wafte my confcience, .inter- 
rupt my peace with God, or make me fhy of his prefence. 
I hope this is the prevailing bent and bias of my foul. — 
Yet, alas ! I frequently, I daily do things of a contrary 
tendency. How often do I omit, or (lightly and haftily 
perform* the duties of the clofet, by which chiefly the life 
and vigour of religion is cherifhed and maintained ! May 
I be more diligent for the future to redeem time for fe- 
cret devotion ! The Spirit of God delights in a calm and 
quiet, a meek and humble foul ; but how often do I fuffer 
little provocations to ruffle me, and how eafily do my keen 
and angry paffions catch fire ! May I better rule my own 
fpirit for the future! May I be enabled to maintain a con- 
(tant, habitual fenfe of the divine prefence and obfervation, 
to keep me always in a calm, compofed frame ! Time is a 
choice jewel, a valuable talent, every minute of which 
mould be well improved; but how much of it do I fuffer 
to run to wade, and fpend it in unprofitable amufements, 
which mould be fpent in converfe with God, and in com- 
muning with my own heart, and even in looking diligently 
Into the concerns of trade. Others may fufpect me of too 
much eagernefs in worldly purfuits, while I am confcious 
of too much flacknefs. May I henceforward be quicken- 
ed to greater care and diligence to divide my time aright, 
and improve it to all valuable purpofes! When tempted 
any way to neglect prefent duty, may the fame principle.* 
that fwayed with good Nehemiah, fway with me, So did 
not I, becaufe of the fear of the Lord. It is for want of con- 
fideration that men are not afraid of God* Did they duly 
confider God and themfelves; did they confider the awful 
perfections of God, his irrefiftible power, his fpotlefs holi- 
nefs, and his inflexible juflice ; did they confider, that (in 
is highly provoking to him ; did they confider: thg£ he is 

evei 



GROWTH IN GRACE. 73 

every where, and takes notice of all their actions ; did they 
at the fame time confider their own guilt, which expofes 
them to the difpleafare of God, and the terrors of his 
wrath, which extend to all our enjoyments, and even reach 
to our fouls, and can wound them with infapportable dif- 
rrefs, and that all the world cannot fupport or relieve us 
under his anger, but that it will purfue us to all eternity; 
did they duly confider thefe things, how would they fear 
before him ! How would his excellency make them afraid* 
and his dread fall upon them! 

GROWTH IN GRACE. 

Lord's day, September 18. 1737. Bui grow in grace*. 
was the fubject, of this day's difcourfe. And now, O my 
foul, what are thy reflections ? Certainly I have felt the 
quickening influences of the Holy Spirit in numberlefs in- 
fiances. I think alfo, I have been made fenfible of my 
corruptions, my finfulnefs and mifery, and been often hum- 
bled as in the dud. I have been convinced of my need of 
Chrift, and fo me what I have feen of his excellency, and 
cannot but hope, that I have been made willing to embrace 
him, and that I have embraced him on his own terms. O 
that I were made to fee more of the worth of Chrift, more to 
admire him, to love him more, and to be more zealous for 
his intereft and glory ! I certainly do efteem God as my 
chief good; my h : ghe(l expectation of happinefs is from 
him, and from his benignity who is the fountain of gocd- 
rrefs, the fpring of everlailmg confolation. I have none in 
heaven but God, nor any thing on earth that I defire or 
love in comparifon of him. Some tafias I have had of his 
love, and of thofe comforts, thofe rivers of pleafjre which 
are at his right hand, the fweetnefs of which infinitely tran- 

G fcends 



74 GROWTH IN GRACE, L l 13~* 

fcends the choiceft delights I ever tailed ia mortal tbiagG 

Surely therefore I have chofen him, yea, I cannot but chufe 
him, for my portion, my everlafting All. I have been en- 
trufted with fo much of this world's goods, as to prove 
what riches, honours, and pleafures of fenfe can do for me, 
and have found them all empty, delufive, and unfatisfying. 
On the other hand, that little I have experienced of his 
love, affures me, that he is an unfathomable ocean of ex- 
cellency. And though I have not done all that I might 
to cherim and cultivate his love yet furely I prize it above 
my very life, and dread his difpleafure worfe than death. 
Surely I may fay, with the pious and ingenious Mrs Rowe: 

« _ ! f this is not a truth, 

u I do not breathe, I have not hopes, nor fears, 
*' I know not where, I know not what I am, 
" But wander in uncertainty and doubt." 

'Ccnfequently fin, as fin, is the object of my ahh 

I loathe, and drive againft what was my darling hift, though, 

alas ! too faintly. Is not this body of fin my heavy bur- 
den? I can appeal to my inmoft conference, as Mr B: ; 
doth; yea, to God himfelf, 

u Would I long bear my heavy load, 

" And keep my forrows long? 
" Would I long fin againft my God, 

" And all his mercies wrong?" 

Is not my judgment, my practical judgment, more firmly 
determined for God ? Speak confeience. Is it not all 
my falvation, and all my defire, to (land high in his favour, 
be conformed to his iikenefs, be made partaker of his ho- 
linefs, and happy in his everlafting embraces ? Are not my 
affections more difengaged than formerly from ridfe 
pleafures, and the honour that cometh from men ? though, 
alas ! I feel too much ftirrings of pride, and need more 

mortification 



-MTLY AFFLICTIONS. 75 

mortification and fel£ denial. My affections cling to my 
wife and children, I think more fenfibly and clofely, than 
to any thing elfe below the ikies ; but yet I am convinced, 
iliould the great Sovereign ftrike all my comforts dead, one 
fmile of his were a fufncient cordial, even under fuch an 
overwhelming trial. As to the duties of religion becom* 
fag more eafy and pleafant, what (hall I fay? Here my 
affurance ftaggers. I have caufe enough to lament with 
holy Job, that it were with me as in monihs or years pofil 
How fhort, alas ! how feldom, how broken are my fecret 
devotions ! What reafon have I to weep over, and be 
afhamed of my fecret prayers ! Lord, quicken thou me, 
and I will call upon thy name ! On the whole, what 
thanks, what adoration, what love do I owe to the God 
and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who, according to 
his abundant mercy, hath begotten me again to a lively hope 
by the refuneclion of Jefus Chrift from the dead. 

-€>-0 ^— 

FAMILY AFFLICTIONS. 

Saturday, September 24. 1737. The cafe of my maid- 
fervant (in- the fmall-pox) was thought to be defpei be, 
but God hath dealt gracioufly in her recovery. She is 
{hatched from the very jaws of death. EleiTed be her 
kind Deliverer ! May her future life be (pent to good 
purpofe i May I be more faithful in admoniihing and in- 
ilrucling her in the things that belong to her peace ! — One 
daughter was very ill of the fame diftemper, but another 
is like to be much worfe. No fooner is one trial pair, but 
another, a forer trial comes on. The clouds return after 
the rain. Such a burden, we cannot but fear, will over- 
whelm her tender frame., quench the lamp of life, and 
bring her down to the daft of death, What if this mould. 
G 2 bs 



*]6 FAMILY AFFLICTIONS* E^737- 

be the mournful iffiie! How w3t thoa compcrt, my foul, 
with fuch a difper.fatlon ? Wilt thou quarrel with the 
great Difpofer find fault with his dealings, or fubmit with 
reluctance : No, that be far from me. Let l erds 

Alive with the potfherds of the ear:';: hat wo be unto 
him that ftriveth with his Maker. Are we not in 
hands, as clay in the hands of the potter, which he may 
exufh or break at his pleafure ? Surely it is meet to be laid 
unto God, I have borne chaftifement, I will oof fei J any 
more. This very dear child is a treasure committed tc 
care, a loan lent unto me by the great Lcrd of all, 
which I am accountable to him ; and may he net call in his 
own when he pleafeth : Is it not a matter of much duty, 
much care and labour, much watchfulnefs and diligence, to 
bring up a child for God? And mould I grudge, mould 
I complain, if God fee good to releafe me fo foon from 
fuch an important trull ? O my foul, haft thou been faith- 
ful in devoting it by baptifm, faithful in praying for it, and 
in forming it to obedience and virtue, fo far as its capacity 
will admit ? Then take the comfort of it. Thy work is 
with the Lord, and thy rewaid with thy God. Or hart 
thou been remifs and negligent ?. Then be humbled for 
part neglects, and diligently improve the hours and days 
that remain, not only in praying for her life, but in de- 
voting her afrefh to God in Chriit, begging that (he may 
be interefted in all the blefungs of the evei : ting covenant, 
and cheerfully reilgning her to the divine whether 

in life or death. 

Saturday, October 1. 1757. This has been a week of 
much trial and exercife of my faith and patience. To fee 
a beloved child blinded, and covered over with a las 
fame difeafe, wreftling with death, ourfelves belpleis and 
impotent, our bowels yearning over her, but not capable 
of helping her to an eafy refpiration. In this diftfejs* to 
the hand of God, to juftify bira, to main: 



FAMILY AFFLICTIONS* 77 

high and honourable thoughts of him, to have ail our ex- 
pectation of relief from him, from his goodnefs and faith- 
fulnefs, his power and all -nirhciency, when flefti and heart 
faileth ; this is a great trial and exercife cf faith. Many 
a time, this day, hath it been whifpered (as it were) in 
mine ears, Have faith in God. Omnipotence can eafily 
fuftain her, and ipread new life and vigour through every 
part. But if not, fare I am, he doth all things well and 
wifely. Though he take from me the defire of mine eyes 
with a ftroke, ftill I will truft him, yea lovt and praife 
him, I find afflictions good for me. I have ever found 
them fo. They are happy means, in the hand of the 
Holy Spirit, to mortify my corruptions, to fubdue my 
pride, my paflion, my inordinate love to the creature. 
They foften my hard heart, bring me on my knees, exer- 
cife and increafe faith, love, humility, felf denial. They 
make me poor in fpirit, and nothing in my own eyes. 
Welcome the crofsl Welcome deep adverfity ! Welcome 
Gripping providences! With Mr Mafon, 

" They make me fing, O happy rod 
M That brought me nearer to my God V p 

Yeflerday morning, and once or twice before, I had Aveet 
enlargement of foul in humble, earned:, and importunate 
fupplication, and entire fubmiilion and refignation. I can 
now fay, (Lord help me to fay it with greater refolution) 5 
Come life, come death, welcome the will of God! 

Lord?* day. Odder 9. 1737. It is done, It is finifhedo 
Her days are numbered, and they are finifhed. Do I for- 
row as one that hath no hope ? Have I not reafon to hope 
me has fallen aileep in Jefus rV Have I not a prevailing 
hope of my own intered in the everiafting covenant? Have 
I not the teltimony of my own confcience, that I have 
been faithful and fincere in devoting her to God in baptifm., 
and many a time fince ? Have I not with lively actings of 
G 3 faith 



/S FAMILY AFFLICTIONS, C x 737- 

faith laid hold on the covenant for her, and recommended 
her to the mercy of a companionate, all-fufficient Saviour I 
Have I not reafon to believe, that fhe is received into the 
bofcm of her dear Redeemer? The irate of feparate fpirits is 
indeed far removed from our observation. It is but little 
that we know of the invifibJe world. But furely there is 
reafon to hope, from what the word of God reveals, that my 
dear child is now a glorious, happy Ipirit made perfect, and 
joined to the general afiembly and church cf the firft born, 
which are written in heaven. Why then mould I repine, 
or be> diffatisfied, at her removal hence ? If all lived to 
adult age, religious parents might be without trials pecu- 
liarly adapted to their patience, their faith, hope and love, 
their fubmiilion and resignation. Many other reafons, no 
doubt, there are for this conduct of Providence. But it 
may well fatisfy me, that what I know not now, I mail 
know hereafter. For the prefent, I am fure the judgment 
of God is according to truth, and that he doth all things 
well and wifely. Then welcome the will of God ! If 
I am bereaved cf my children, I am bereaved. I (hall ga 
to them, but they (hall not return to rae^ 

Lord's day, OSober 23. 1737. I am forry to find the 
humbling fenfe of this fmarting affliction fo much and fo 
quickly worn oft. It grieves me, to find my fpirit fo un- 
tamed, my pride fo unmortified. I have been tranfported 
kft week into feveral indecent (allies of paflion, difagree- 
able to my profeffioii and character, and contrary to many 
folemn refolves. Certainly pride is at the bottom, unmor- 
tified pride. It is true, I was not angry without cauie. 
This fervant had been negligent, another had fpoiled his 
work, a third had been difhoneft $ but what then ? Might 
I not have reproved theft faults without pafEon ? Is not a 
mild rebuke more likely to prevent fifth faults for the fu- 
ture ? Or if not, ought I not to have fuffered a little lofs 
patiently, rather than ruffle my temper, difquiet my mind, 

and. 



FAMILY AFFLICTIONS. 79 

an J diilurb the peace of my foul ? Doth it not argue great 
weaknefs to make another man mafter of my temper, and 
fubject my tranquillity to every little difappointment? Be 
afhamed of this, O my foul, and let me learn hencefor- 
ward better to govern my own fpirit. O could I learn to 
think more meanly of myfelf, furely 1 mould net treat 
with a haughty infolence, even my inferiors, though they 
do things contrary to my intereft ! What difhonour do I 
bring upon the gofpel of Chrift, when I, who have taken 
upon me the Chriftian name, difcover to the world unmor- 
tified paffions, a fpirit fo unlike to the meek and lowly 
Jefus ! Is not meeknefs, mildnefs and love the very fpirit 
of the gofpel I Is it not its diftinguifhing excellency, to 
break favage nature, and make it gentle, to civilize brutes 
and barbarians, to fubdue unruly paffions, and teach its 
votaries to blefs them that curfe, to blefs and curfe not ? 
Hath not our Saviour taught us, not to refill, evil, but 
whofoever fliall fmite me on the right cheek, that I turn 
to him the other alfo ? Is not this to be perfect, even as 
our Father which is in heaven is perfect ? How then (hall 
it appear that I am a difciple of Chrifl:, if I fufTer my re- 
fentment, my angry paffions to arife, when no affront, no 
mifchief, no difobedience was defigned me, but merely 
perhaps an act of inadvertency or careleffnefs ? Or how 
can I expect to be forgiven the thoufand talents I owe to 
my great Lord, if I cannot forgive my fervant a hundred 
pence, or bridle my paffion, when the damage done me, 
perhaps, doth not amount to a (ingle penny? Again con- 
fider, O my foul, when I difcover angry refentments for 
a fmall neglect or mifmanagement of a fervant, is this doing 
to others, as I would that others mould do to me ? Sup- 
pofe I was in that fervanr's place, and had the fame depen- 
dence on him for a livelihood, as he now hath upon me, 
(which might have been the cafe), how would fuch a be- 
haviour in km towards me fit upon my heart !. What pain 

and 



SO INCONVENIENCIES ON A JOURNEY. C 1 737- 

and uneafinefs would it give me ! How unreafonable 
mould I think fuch a keen refentment, fuch an imperious 
tone, fuch an over-bearing infolence, in my matter or fu" 
perior, when the fault was wholly negative, it maybe, a 
mere omanon ! How tenderly fhould I expecl or wifh to be 
treated, were I in the place of thofe whom I treat fo rudely ! 
Why then fhould I give to others a pain, a diiturbance, a 
vexation, which I myfelf fhould think altogether unreafon- 
able ? Be deeply humbled, O my foul, for paft tranfgref- 
fions of this kind, and for the future let me guard again ft 
the firft rifings of paflion, or check it as foon as it begins 
to fwelL Purfue and reach after the amiable ornament of 
humility, a meek and quiet fpirit, which in the fight of 
God is of great price. So fhall I learn to bear the crofs 
incidents of life without the ruffle and difturbance of my 
own inward powers, the pain and terror of thofe about 
me, and without making others witnefles to my folly and 
weaknefs. 

-<&>0<^) 

INCONVENIENCIES OK A JOURNEY. 

Lancafier, November, 1737. From this place, I fent 
in a letter to my wife the following verfes, which I com- 
pofed for her, while I was riding alone, and in the dark; 

While diftant from my dear abode, 

And from thy dearer face, 
Through lonefome paths and dreary ways, 

I roam from place to place. 

Frequent the pleating thoughts return, 

And facred joys infpire — 
When fears affail, and danger's nigh r 

My Father God is nigher. 

Thou 



INCONVENIENCIES ON A JOURNEY. Si 

Thou art my portion, Lord, I cry, 

let my cry be heard ! 
Thy favour is the light of life, 

Thy providence my guard. 

In various muiings of the mind, 

And thoughts that inward roll. 
Thy comforts, which are all divine, 

Cheer and delight my foul. 

I find no certain dwelling-place, 

But wander here and there ; 
I'm but a pilgrim here below, 

As all my fathers were. 

But there remains for me a reft, 

An houfe not made with hands, 
A manfion on the heavenly plains, 

Where my falvation (lands. 

Here Pm expos'd to boift'rous winds, 

And raging ftorms invade, 
No fence, no fhelter o'er my head* 

1 find no friendly (hade. 

There is a region all ferene, 

No cloud infefts the Iky, 
Storms never roar, or gather round 

The faints that dwell on high. 

Through friades of night I grope along, 

• Bereft of gladfome day, 
Many my dangers, and unfeen, 

While darknefs veils my way. 

But there the nations of the juft, 

Remote from gloomy night, 
Are bleft with rays of love divine, 

And dwdl in endlefs light. 

Hers 



$2 ENDEAVOURS TO RECLAIM C x 737' 

Kere we are mourning blafted joys, 

Our cleared comforts die ; 
Vain are our fondeft cries and tears 

To hold them, when they fly- 
There they, reftor'd to our embrace, 

With heavenly fplendour fhine r 
And all around our Father's board 

Regale on joys divine. 



-®-o-®- 



ENBEAVOURS TO RECLAIM A DISSOLUTE FRIEND. 

Lord's day ^December 4. 1737. The providence of the' 
Mo ft High, which hath kept me all my days, brought me 
home laft night in fafety and health, from my northern 
circuit, in which I have been out a month. A little be- 
fore I went from home, I heard a fermon, on The joy in 
heaven over one finner that repenteth. I was glad to fee 

. — — in his place, and attentive to the preacher* 

while he was very affectionately expoflulating with finners. 
I. immediately determined to write • to ■ , 

which I did as foon as I came home. I begged of him, 
once a-day for a week at leaft, to retire, and ferioufly afk 
himfelf fome queftions I gave him, and then pour out the 
fentiments of his heart in fervent prayer to God. He 
took my letter fo kindly, that he attempted to put the ad- 
vice in practice ; but when he kneeled down to pray, he 
was feized with horror, and could do little elfe but weep. 
He after fell to drinking again, and was out to two or 
three in the morning. The fecond or third morning he 
came home in great agony of mind, accufing and condemn- 
ing himfelf freely to his wife, not without fome expreffions 
of defpair. In this temper he came to me, and in an 
hour or two's private converfation declared his defire to 

leave 



NEW YEAR'S DAY. $$ 

The chief of tinners have obtained 
His grace, and pard'ning mercy gainM. 

Oft have I heard the gofpel found 

With tenders of forgiving love. 

Of thofe that feek him, he'll be found ; 

For contrite hearts his bowels move. 

W ho knows, fince patience yet takes place^ 
But this may prove my day of grace ? 

Their wants will furely be fupply'd, 
Whofe earned cries his grace implore. 
Nor ever was his fuit deny'-d, 
Who humbly knock'd at mercy's door. 

Here, then, I'll wait, and knock, and cryj 

If I mud perifh, here I'll die. 

NEW YEAR'S DAY. 

Lord's day, January i. 1733. With what fharae, 
with what thankfulnefs, have I reafon to reflect on the 
year that is paft? It hath been a year of mercy, many and 
multiplied mercies. It hath been a year of bodily health, 
little pain or fickaefs have I been exercifed with. It hath 
alfo been a year of proiperity : bad as trade is in general, 
God hath been pleafed to bids my endeavours with good 
fuccefs ; if not equal to iome yeais, yet I am fare far be- 
yond my deferts. But what returns have I made to God 
for all his mercies? How backward have I been to devo- 
tional duties ! How rernifs and languid in them ! How 
rarely have I enjoyed fenilble communion with God I 
How little time have I fet apart (unlefs when travelling) 
from the concerns of the world for fclemn meditation, for 
converting, with God and my own foul ! How often have 

H I been 



*S6 UNHAPPY TEMPER AT THE LORD'S TABLE. [1738. 

1 been tranfported into indecent failles of ram and finful 
anger ; though not fo as to ftrike any perfon, nor fo as to 
utter profane, fcurrilous, or abufive language; yet fo as to 
fuffer my mind to be diftempered and over-heated, fo as to 
lofe the government of myfelf, perhaps grieve my wife, 
children, fellow-ChrifHans, and expofe myfelf to their 
cenfures. May I double my guard againft. this my confti- 
tution fin. May I be more earned: and frequent in praying 
for ftrength and fuccour from above in the hour of trial and 
temptation, that as my day, fo my ftrength may be. 
And may I be more conftant every morning in devotional 
exercifes, v/hich I have often found fo very ufeful to pro- 
mote my watchfulnefs, to compofe my fpirits, and to mend 
my fr^me and temper of mind. 

UNHAPPY TEMPER AT THE LORD'S TABLE. 

Lord's day, February 5. 1738. This day I have been 
commemorating the dying love of Ghrift. But, Oh ! how 
cold hath my love been to him, whofe love to me hath 
been fo fervent 1 How unfuitable the frame of my mind 
to fuch a folemnity ! I would be deeply humbled for it, 
and inquire into the caufe. — However I have this comfort, 
in reflecting on what pafled at the Lord's table, that in 
meditating before the adminiftration, and in fetting myfelf 
earneftly to feek God, I could fay, " Lord, thou haft 
<{ been found of me in this place, and on this occafion 
" heretofore. And art not thou the fame God ? And is 
" not the defire of my foul fincerely towards thee !" 
I received fome comforting afTurance, that I am the 
Lord's, fincerely devoted to him, and that he is my God 
in covenant, my portion and my all. Yea, I was per- 
fuaded of my readinefs, through affixing grace, to yield a 

cheerful 



i 



A STATE OF TRUE CONTENTMENT. 87 

cheerful obedience and fubjeaion to his will in all things, 
fo far as I (hould know it, even to the difcharge of the 
moft felf-denying fervices, and the patient bearing the mod 
bitter fufferings for his fake. May this be the fixed,, de- 
terminate purpofe of my foul, and herein may I increafe 
more and more ! 

A STATE CF TRUE CONTENTMENT. 

Lord's day y March 26. 1738. My heavenly Father 
hath not only bleffed me with a competent portion of the 
good things of this life, but he hath alio bleffed me with 
fome comfortable meafure of contentment with my lot. He 
hath given me enough, and enabled me to think it enough, 
both for myfelf and family, although he mould not be plea- 
fed to add any farther increafe. Bleffed be God, 1 can take 
a cheerful enjoyment of the comforts of life, and gratify 
the lawful and innocent demands of nature, without that 
fear of want, of which Solomon fays, This is vanity, and 
it is an evil clifeafe. I can purfue my trade and worldly 
bufinefs in an humble dependence on the divine conduct 
and blefling, without an anxious folicitude for fuccefs; and, 
through grace, can bear difappointments and loffes with 
bumble fubniifiion to divine difpofal, without excruciating 
care and vexation. I caft myfelf, my family, my mod 
important interelts, my all, upon the Lord, v/ith humble 
truit in his all-fufficiency and goodnefs, not only as able 
to fuftain me, but who hath promifed, that all things mail 
work together for my good, and to preferve me to his hea- 
venly kingdom. Far be it from me to attribute the praife 
of this to myfelf. No. This is the gift of God. It is 
not my own wifdom or goodnefs. It is the bleffing of God 
that maketh rich, and he addeth no fgrrow with it. I 
H. a. wdulcL 



83 A STATE OF TRUE CONTENTMENT. L l 73^' 

would thankfully afcribe to the praife of the glory of his 
grace, and to the aids of his Holy Spirit, whatever good 
difpofit-ions I find in me, and would humbly confecrate all 
to his fervice. But I would charge on myfelf the defects 
of my obedience, and the remains of envy and difcontent, 
which are yet too much un mortified. I have not attained 
to that full contentment with my eftate, which the com- 
mandment requires., and which I would be found reaching 
after. Fain would I be brought to think my prefent ftate, 
however inferior to others in- riches and greatnefs, and what- 
ever ldffes and difappointments I am at any time excercifed 
with, to be beft for me. In order to this, and as much 
as poffible to perfect my contentment, I would — Coniider 
the folly and m'fcbief cf dfcontent. It cannot mend my flate, 
but will make it much worfe. It is not a likely means of 
obtaining the bleffing of God, but the way to bring his 
frowns, if not his curfe, on what I have. It will unfit me 
for the duties of religion, and for the proper bufinefs of my 
Ration in life, fo far as it prevails. It will hinder my en- 
joyment of the comforts I have, and add bitternefs to every 
affliction'. It is indeed productive of envy, malice, hatred, 

injuftice, and almoft every kind of unrighteoufnefs. i 

On the other hand, confider, O my foul, the many and 
great advantages of contentment. It is pleafing to God; it 
honours and glorifies him. It difpofes us to a cheerful dif- 
charge of our duty in all chxumftances. It gives us the 
bed enjoyment of life. It will prevent many evils, and 
preferve from many temptations. It is a cure of covetouf- 
nefs, or an undue efteem of the world, and inordinate de- 
fire after it, as alfo of pride, or too high thoughts of our. 
felvcs. It will fweeten every affliction, at leaft it will take 
off much of its bitternefs, and help us to bear up under 
lofks, reproaches, poverty and difgrace (if we fuffer.as well- 
doers) with compofure and ferenity of mind. . O my foul, 
labour more after, this excellent temper, and check and 
mortify every rifing, every motion of difcontent. 

YOl'T } 



TOUTH EXCITED TO THINK OF DEATH, 8^ 



YOUTH EXCITED TO THINK OF DEATH. 

[To a nephew, at the age of 12 or 13, Mr Williams 
wrote the following letter. J 

Dear Cousin, July u. 1738. 

It was a very mournful providence, which at once be- 
reaved your dear parents of their only daughter, and you 
of your only filler. I doubt not you, to whom me was 
fo near and dear, could nor but (hare deeply in the com- 
mon grief of all your uncles, aunts, coufins, and many o« 
thers that were acquainted with her. — But let me tell you ? 
Coufin, it is not enough to grieve and mourn under fo aw- 
ful a difpenfation. Such a providence hath a voice. 
When death comes into a family, it calls loudly to every 
furviving member of it, and 1 cannot but hope you did 
then hear the rod, and did confider who appointed it. 
But perhaps by this time the found thereof ceafes to toll in 
your ears. Shall I therefore put you in mind ? I hope 
you will not think it impertinent, or unfeafonable, at this 
diflance of time, to be reminded of it, for the lefTons it 
dictates, are not to be obferved for a day, or a week, or a 

month, or a year, but throughout your whole life. It 

is defigned to mind you of your mortality. Not only that 
you mould think of it, while the affecting object lay in 
your fight, or when you was attending it to its dufty bed, 
or for that evening, when the forrowful fcene was frefh in 
your memory. Did ^ou not, on that melancholy occa- 
fion reflect thus? u My filter is dead and gone, who was 
" younger than I. She was lately as likely to live as I 
t( now am. A rofy bloom overfpread her cheeks, he* 
" tokening health and vig ur but now alas! theioles are 
" withered, and turned into a mortal paleneis. Am v u ,c 
H 3 « knows 



§0 YOUTH EXCITED TO THINK OF DEATH. [1738c 

" knows but my turn may be next ? She that was lately 
" fo briik and fprigbtly, lies now fenfelefs and inanimate. 
" And how foon may this be my cafe ? Who knows what 
" a day or a week may bring forth ? 9 Did you think fo 
then ? And is not the cafe the fame (till ? And will it not 
be the fame as long as you live ? Meditate therefore daily 

on your mortality. Not only mould it mind you, that 

you are a dying creature, but mould alfo quicken you to 
prepare to die. You know that all of you will not die. 
Man is a compound being. The material fjbftance will 
die and perifri. But there is an immortal, invifible, imma- 
terial fubflance within, which, when the body dies, takes 
its flight, as a bird when it efcapes out of a cage, and is 
carried by angels to its proper place. Thofe that loved 
God whilft here, and devoted themfelves fincerely to his 
fervice* and are made meet for the bufmefs and bleffednefs 
of heaven, mall at death be carried thither. On the other 
hand, thofe who had a prevailing averfion to God and ho- 
linefs. and love to the ways of fin, fnall be turned into hell, 
and be made companions of devils and damned fpirits. 
Now which of thefe two ftates would you c-hoofe ? I 
know it is not poilible you mould choofe the latter. But 
remember, they who choofe the ways of fin, do in effect 
choofe its wages. Let this providence therefore excite 
yon to prepare to die, by devoting yourfelf entirely to God. 
Do it now. Set out betimes in the ways of God, where- 
by you will lay up a good foundation for yourfelf againft 
the time to come, and will hereafter lay hold on eternal 
life.- — —There is one voice more of this awful, ftroke, which 
you mould never forget ; that you are now your parents' 
only hope. Had your fitter lived, then, though you 
fhould have proved perverfe and difobedient, they might 
have had comfort in her. But now me is gene, if vou 
mould prove a fon of forrow, an heart-breaking to them, 
where ftiall they look for comfort? You will bring down 

their 



CONJUGAlrLOVB. 91 

their grey hairs with forrow to the grave. Coufin, if thine 
heart be wife, mine heart (hall rejoice, even mine; for I 
can affure you, that your welfare and well-doing will admi- 
nifter matter of rea- joy to, dear Coufin, your affectionate 
friend and loving uncle, J. W. 

CONJUGAL LOVE. 

[To the publifher of the Gentleman's Magazine, Mr Wil- 
liams fent the following letter and verfes* which were in- 
ferted, Auguft 1738. J 

Sir, 
I meet with many fine things in your Magazine, ad- 
dreffed to young ladies, in order to win their affection ; but 
feldom, if ever, have feen any thing done, in the poetical 
way, to preferve or cherim it after marriage. I hope the 
poets do not all live and die batchelors. Why then fhould 
they be lefs infpired with enjoyment, than with expectation 
or defire? Or why mould it be thought a fubject unwor- 
thy or unfit for the mufes r to cultivate or celebrate con- 
jugal love? As I was travelling lately in a pleafant evening 
far from home, the fmiling gaiety of the feafon all around 
me infpiring delight, my thoughts took an agreeable turn 
that way, and in an hour or two, on a round trot, produced 
the following lines. 

Me re at or to his Amanda, 
O thou, in whom complacence dear I find** 
Far fweeter folace of my labouring mind, 
(Saving what fweeter to His grace I owe, 
At whofe right hand rivers of pleafure flow]^ 
Thou deareft partner of my joys and cares, 
Thou daily fubject of my fervent pray'rs, 

Whom 



92 PREPARATION FOR DEATH. C I 73S- 

Whom fliall I love but thee, my charming fpoufe> 
To whom engag'd I (land by folemn vows? 
Are children dear — and not Amanda more, 
Amanda^ who the beauteous offspring bore ? 
Whdm fliould I care to pleafe, my fair, but thee ? 
Who gar it in blooming youth thyfelf to me? 
Nor parents' frowns thy fieady heart could move, 
Firm to thy choice, and conftant in thy love; 
Love, which through years in penfive patience fpent, 
Bow'd their relcclant minds to late confent. 
Bleft be the day! when Hymen join'd our hands, 
And bound our gentle hearts with mutual bands; 
The day when thou, by pure affe&ion led, 
DidiT take me for thy fpoufe, thy guide, thy head-. 
Hail ! wedded love, fource of domeftic joys; 
Hence! jarring difcord, which all blifs deftroys. 
Still may my hreaft with cbafleft paflions burn ; 
Still may my dear an equal flame return ; 
Connubial flame dill in thy bofom glow, 
Fond as the loving hind, and pleafing roe, 
So fnall thy blifs my joy perpetual prove, 
And I be ever ravifli'd with thy love. 

PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 

Wednejday> Auguji 30. 1738. / inow, fays Job, thai 
thou win bring me to death* and to the houfe appointed for all 

living. Is this a ferious truth, and fhould it then be feri- 
oufly conhdered? Should it not be admitted daily into my 
ferious contemplations, now while life lads, which is fo un- 
certain, and while fomething may be done towards making 
my death both fife and comfortable? Have 1 any concern 
in the world of equal importance with this, or that fo juttly 

denic 



PREPARATION FOR DEATH. 93 

demands feme portion of my time to be fet apart for this 
foleitt purppfe and cefign, even while I am hot and eager 
in my earthly purfuits? If my great work be not yet done, 
what an indifpenfible neceflity is there, that I fet myfelf 
ferioufly to think on death, in order to quicken me in my 
preparation for it! "What care mould I take to mortify my 
corruptions! How earned and importunate mould I be at 
the throne of grace, for renewing and fanctifying grace, 
that the divine image might be ftamped on my foul, that it 
mig": utified and adorned with every Christian grace 

and virtue, tl at thefe may mine forth in my life and con- 
versation, that I may adorn the doctrine of God my Sa- 
viour in all things, and may be found meet to be a par- 
taker of the inheritance of the faints in light? Or if I 
have ho;; ?h rich grace, that fuch a bieffed change 

is begun in me; yet what need have I of the mofl quicken- 
ing means, to make me diligent in getting a fupply of what- 
ever is lacking in my faith, love, and joyful hope: Do I 
know yet what it is to die? Or, what further grace and 
ftrength I mall want, and to which I have not attained? 
It is appointed unto men once to die. It is but once that 
I am to take my leave of thefe mortal fhores. and launch 
forth into the boundlefs ocean of eternity. It is but ence 
that I am to refign my departing fpirit, with faith, and 
hope, and humble confidence, to the care of my gracious 
Redeemer. Bat once I am to clofe mine eyes on thefe 
tranfitory fcenes, and immediately open them, by a new 
vifion, on an amazing, unknown fcene, in a region widely 
different from this, and in the midft offpiritual beings, 
Notwithstanding I have had for many years, and ftilJ have, an 
habitual prevailing hope, that my everlailing Bate is made 
and fecure, that God is my Father, friend, and por- 
: I am his by electing, adopting love, and re- 
newing grace; yet how do I know this hope will abide, 
and I jonies p£ a diiibludon: K ;\v different a 



94 COMMITTING THE SPIRIT TO CHRIST. C Z 73^- 

view may I then have of my pad fins! How mucjh more 
black and frightful may they then appear, than nc v in a 
time of health and flrength ! What different reflections may 
I then make on my repentance, my forrow for fin, my faith 
in Chriit, and my feveral acts of duty and obedience! 
The fins of my youth, many of which are forgotten, may 
then revive and affright my trembling confcience, and the 
terrors of the Lord may fet themfelves in array againfi 
me. What can comfort me then, but the teftimony of a 
good confcience, and this fealed and witneffed to by the 
comforting Spirit? What, but an overcoming faith, in an 
all-fufficient Saviour, and evidenced by fincere obedience 
of heart and life to whatfoever he hath commanded? If 
God fpeaketh peace, who is he that (hall then fpeak ter- 
ror? But in this, as well as many other cafes, the race is 
not to the fvv'ift, nor the battle to the ftrong. Many a 
bright day hath clofed with, a cloudy evening. Yet ordi- 
narily, where confcience is void of offence towards God 
and man, death will be attended with prefent peace and 
joy. Be it however my chief, care and concern, that my 
death may be fife, fo that when I die, I may fleep in Jefus, 
leaving it to the great Difpcfer of all events to allot to me 
what meafure of comfort and joy he fees to be moft for his 
glory. 

COMMITTING THE SPIRIT TO CHRIST. 

Lord's day, September 17. 1738. Lord Jefus receive 
my fpirit. With thefe words Stephen the proto-martyr 
clofed his eyes in death, when a furious, bigotted mob had 
barbaroufly bruifed and battered his body with a fhower of 
/tones. Thus the apoftle Peter directs them that fjffer ac- 
cording to the will of God, to commit the keeping of their 

fouls 



COMMITTING THE SPIRIT TO CHRIST. 95 

fouls to him in well-doing as to a faithful Creator. Thus 
David in great danger and diftrefs cries, Into thine hand I 
commit myfpirit, thou hajl redeemed me 9 Lord God of truth* 
And thus our bleffed Lord, juft before he yielded up the 
ghoft, cried out, Father^ into thine hands I commend my fpi- 
rit. The day is coming, the hour is drawing on, even 
whilft I am writing and meditating on it, it is making its 
advances, when this body, fo dear to me, which I have 
tended and nourifhed with fo much care, mud die. Then 
all its motions and operations will ceafe, and it will become 
wholly untenantable to this active immortal fpirit, which will 
then immediately diflodge hence, and being difburdened of 
the crazy load, will flee away into the world of fpirits. 
Before that, perhaps, pain and grief will render life a bur- 
den, embitter all its comforts, and make the profpecl: of 
reft, even in the grave, inviting and delightful. However 
that may be, the intimate union of foul and body, my un- 
acquaintednefs with the inhabitants of the other world, to- 
gether with fome uncertainty about the iflues of death, 
make my foul ready to fear, and (how diftant foever that 
event may be) to tremble at the thought. O ! what will it 
he to fail between world and world! What will it be to 
quit this earthly tenement, and feek a new, an everlafting 
abode in the immenfe, the boundlefs regions of eternity! 

" Hovering about thefe mortal fhores, 

" Mine eye with vaft furvey, -i 
" Views the dread darkfome gulph, that leads 

" To realms of heavenly day. 
** This is the vaft, untry'd abyfs, 

" My foul, thou mutt explore; 
« O for a kind, a (kilfal hand 

" To waft the ftrariger o'er!" 

■ ■ ■■ I have been prefent at the death of many of my dear 
friends. I beheld my dear father's dying agonies ; ( 1 7 19): 

I heard 



committing 7'^z s?i?.:t re ::: : .:;t. [1738 

I heard his dying groan, while fittii 
leaned his head on my bread. Live!;." s rf joy, 

- that moment, prevailed, and triumph:: ipaC 

fionate grief. I was glad his weary foul was got free from 
thofe excruciating pains which were occafioned by a [lone 
in his bladder, and which for many days, yea weeks and 
months, had lain heavy upon him. It was afore 

:■: before, that my thoughts purfued his departing (pint 
to a better world and ftate. I could not but wift my 
in his foul's (lead, had it been the will c: renly Fa- 

ther. But little do I k it violent 

ftruggles of diffolving nature, w per- 

plexing doubts, might dri tract and vex his trembling 
in that awful hour. As little do I km 
tides of : :::ed his exulting (pint, as 5 the 

vital bands were burft, and he found himlelf in the bai 
of heavenly guards. With " haf j :; : and tur- 

prife did he behold that new, that (irange, thai glorious 
fcene, which then opened to him! How Ebon were his 
baniflied, and the ic ircd 

in the::: What rapturous joy poflefied him, to heat 
himfelf aceofted by the fe b enig : 

ther and fellow-ferva:;:! What rcmfning pleafure to hear 
his guardian, who had miniftered :: 
and been witnefs to his pious care and watchiulneis, 

-denial and mortification, his godly Ibrrow, 
w r arm devotion, his earneft wreftlings wkh God, and zeal 
for God's honour and intereft, as well as to his frailties 
and follies of life; to hear luch a one aflure him of iif ie 
approbation and acceptance is the BeloTec 
many Inftances in which he had refcoed him from impend- 
ing dangers, feen or unfeen, guarded him ara- 
ble e" :d him in hours of temp: ifted his 
devotions, anin pious refolutionsj Glenced his (ears, 
refoivsd his debts, directed bis way, pi ua- 

dqrtsdungSj 



: :t :r 7*1 sir: ;ziv3al: 

Sty, and 
good to tin : it &f evfl PefBasc . " : F the 

idnefs :<: : father- 

V\"r. : cm fay r.z: ..; '.:: iirftre.r. 

from what he had feen with the eyes af flefli ! C 

: conceived, bow orach more }afi and true, 
how wach more ::.;::. in thofe he had en- 

Hqw much more kn 
J he gain in xie he ir, than in the Gxty ye : .. 
his pilgrimage here ! K ;ght 

to conceive of G : atnre, pa 6 9 

V.". ,_-. i:r.z -.:.:-. -e. ye: i-;v.i- 
Hedge ii - he anicklj attain :: : 

tent zzled; naen. of the i 

he made clearly tc life 
the ;: harmony of thoae (eeming contradictions 

. ullages : I bich fa iyc : 

..:? ,.:: ;:": :: . -. ::: :. 

many C"..r: . rches ! Docnrines, 

;nce 
an Eree agency, God's tee free 

Fat .-;: begetting and the Son begotten, die Spii - 
proceeding from both, i Trinity in mity, and many : 
fee- :. h:v/ irt :..i 

wei lone 



A PROSPECT OF TBlE NEW JERUSALEM 

As ::n':, my .: . Pugah fta 

:':. land ; 
itlpjre. 



$8 A PROSPICT CF THE SZW~ TFTA'SALEV. [ | - : | 

Glittering with radiant light diyi 
Like jafper-ftone, cr chryftallioe. 

And fpangkd e'er with many a gem, 

Stands glorious new Jerufalem. 

Imperial palace of mv God, 

Twelve thoufand furlong? lor.g and broad, 

Fourfquare the plan. furprilirg Tight ! 

Of equal length, and breadth, and heig: 

Pellucid pearls, of various ray, 

The city's twelve (bundawas I 

Row above row ; in order rife, 

Of various dye, of various fee. 

jafper and fapphire the (hall view. 

With chalcedony's beauteous rue, 

Sardonyx, emerald, f.-. 

The beryl, and the ci. 

Then topaz, jacinth, chi -yfcuhrafe, 

And amethytt of purple blaze 

On thefe a wall, built great and h:g"n. 

Defies or force cr treachery. 

On hinges turnM, of maffive gold, 

Twelve gates their pearly leave-- onf 

Each gate one pearl, on each Gde tt 

Arrang'd in perfect ivmme:ry, 

In which, by turns, at God's command, 

Each a: his pott, twelve ar.gels Rand. 

Her (beets the jpureft gold furpafs, 

More briiliant than traniparent glafs. 

No need of local temple there, 

Where God and Chrift are ever near. 

Their temple, God, the great I AM, 

Their temple is the glorious Lamb. 

No reed of fun, or paler moon, 

is tl e bnghtefl noon, 



A PROSPECT OF 7 

soyah's dazzling glories ihine, 
And the Lamb (batten 

; this fqualid, darUbme 

bri »htei rir, 

Than (weet A:.ry:.vs fecial ftar; 
Nor lucid beams of Sol compare 

en* my d ing fouh 

:er here 
Wh 

Ah ay, 

Where thoufands in die 

:nt on the wing, and upwards fo», 
Till earthly fc^ . -. :■ nore. 

Wrapt ap in flames :i love, 

Trim 

Yield not tli ; .. . ; b .- ;re, 

C fee v is mere. 

Plac . . : loft, 

I el raff- 

De 

sorrow wing'd an d fl - - way. 
Come, view the del :" an iefi m lne% 
T: thee, - peons Lord iffigns ^ 

So large, 6 bos i Mefi is the Here, 
Rty feu] can ...■:. can wifh no more. 
Do lands and gpc ngs fire 

Th :.z ca :-:: « Kb I ly n ma iefire ; 
Lock Dp, and ponder rell thy (hare 
In realms above; art thoa Dot hear 
To an inheritance in light, 
To manfioris built :v uY InfiniteJ 

I 2 On 



ICO A PROSPECT OF THE NEW JERUSALEM, [173B* 

On earth, thy fancy often roves 
To calm retreats, gardens, or groves, 
Oft haft thou felt What pleasures yield 
The bleating flock, the waving field, 
The lowing herd. But what are thefe, 
Compar'd with thcfe life-giving trees, 
Whofe charming rows on either fide, 
Where living waters gently glide, 
Branches of healing fruit expand, 
Which 'lure the eye, and tempt the hand, 
Whofe tafte excels the rich-ft wine, 
Xnfufing life and joy divine ! 
There, on the foft enamelPd floors, 
Flora furprifing beauties pours ; 
The roofs with grapy clufters hung, 
(Faffing the bower, fam'd Milton fling, 
In paradife, once fweet and fair, 
The manfion of the favourite pair.} 
Heaven's blifsful natives entertain, 
All fcatter'd o'er the verdant plain, 
Cherub, and feraph, thrones and powers. 
With myriads from this world of ours, 
Redeemed fouls, by grace renew'd, 
Their robes made white in Jefus' blood* 
What hallow'd joys their breads infpire, 
While fole, or focial, they retire, 
For varied blifs, from regal feats, 
To thefe delicious, pure retreats, 
Made vocal with melodious lays, 
Sung to the bounteous Author's praife ! 

A GOO&. 



a cc : 3 z c r , : : : 



>d man satisfied from himself. 

Lot i. 1739- Solomon lays, J good 

man be -alone- i 

Sod above aft v ho •- - "--d 

; j God : who [todies la know ifee r.: i n d 

. have hi? temper ir,: conduit 

-:-;:;; who er . . Blfeif to ::. : 

1 .re cu : and dcknefs, in rrofperity and ad- 

D 1 : : e and death ; who is dc : it towards G:d> 

men ; and ah this from a pre* 

ing^ Icve to Gad, and iefire in ... things to do what is 

I - ; ye:, when be ha& done ah, cxyec:: 

xeptnce :: mi the (core ch his own per- 

fanniuaui, but -. - ..-. in C ":.: ft, and for the Sake 

bat d e S 

; . -. .. be fattened primarily from 

God. sfied :": : m fa rifelE 

I: is, for inftance, g consideration to a good man, 

3e his peace with God. Some may ob- 

ta this manner of expreiEon, that not we, but C 

_;s : . ir Eace with G:d ; for he is cur peace, ft is 

: the great peace-maker, wnn reconciles God 

nan, by bearing our fins : n his awn body :r. :he tree, 

and, lal tnterceffion for us. Sot we make 

God, as we are actors therein ; for, 

: the Spirit, we accept o:\Chrhl v.hth a full ccnfent 

of will, and exert all ::: powers in confefing fin, re- 

nour bitterly : : rrc wing for Gn- 

fid compfianccs. Irmly refi . . r die fo- 

^ ::::::.:: - Ci ; mediatorial :;h;es for r& 

3 (alvation, and earneftly praying :o G : d for 

acceptance and eternal lire. It is a farther fetis- 

ion to a good man, that having made ins peace 

I 3- Gc-V 



102 A GOOD MAN SATISFIED FROM HIMSELF. [l739> 

God, he hath fecured his beft,. his everlafting interefL 
It mud be his daily and perpetual feaft, to enjoy an habi- 
tual hope of everlafting felicity, when he hath run his 
Chriftian race, and fi'nifhed his probationary courfe. He 
will be often looking beyond the vail, and be taking a plea- 
ling, though very imperfect, furvey of the glory that is to 
be revealed- This fpreads an habitual cheerfulnefs over 
his temper, and gives him vaftly the advantage over thofe, 
who derive all their comforts and hopes from the objects 
of fenfe, and confine them to this prefent ftate of exiftence. 
"Whatever his afflictions or dangers are, he is always fafe 
under the divine protection and care. Pain and ficknefs, 
loffes and difappointments, the death of near and dear 
friends, poverty and difgrace, they all work together for 
his good, mend the frame of his mind, lead him nearer to 
God in more frequent and fweet- communion, exercife and 
increafe his faith and truft in God, and thankfulnefs to 
him. His grateful reflections will be fuch as thefe : 
" What though pains of body now break my reft, and fill 
" me with tofiings to and fro unto the dawning of the 
*■' day, they are but temporary; there remains a reft for the 
*' people of God, and it remains for- me 1 Some of thofe 
* ; with whom 1 have entrufted part of my worldly fub- 
** ftance difappoint my expectation,, riches make them- 
ci felves wings and flee away ; but my beft treafure is in 
** heaven, in bags which wax not old, which can never be 
*Moft. What though friends die, my God, my Saviour 
4i lives, whom, having not feen, I love above all ! Friends 
6i are that, and that only to me, which God makes them, 
" and when their ailiftance and ufefulnefs ceafe, ftill in an 
14 ali-fufficient God, I have all things and abound. Nsi- 
6i ther poverty nor difgrace can make me miferable, 
" whilft I have the promife, that I (hall not want any 
u good thing, that no good thing will be with-held from 
*< sat, aad (land approved of my own cosfcience, and of 



A GOOD MAN SATISFIED FROM HIMSELF. IO3 

" my Sovereign Judge, who will bring forth my judgmen 
u as the light, and my righteoufnefs as the noon- day." 
It is no fmali Satisfaction to a good man, to fee the fruits 
cf his pious labours. Though many pious parents fee 
caufe to lament, that their houfe is not fo with God as they 
could wifti ; yet there are but few, if any, who do not fee 
fome good fruit of their good examples, and pious inftrue- 
tions to children, fervants, or thofe about them. The 
righteous not only is, but appears in the eye cf the world, 
more excellent than his neighbour. The prefence of a 
good man aften bridles the tongue of the profane. His 
fadden appearance fometimes reftrains a torrent of curfing 
and fwearing. When he obferves thefe things, it cannot 
but yield him a fecret and fweet delight, and is an evident 
proof, that goodnefs is fo awful, as to bear its teftimony 
in the breads of the wicked. It is a pleafjre to him to 
curb wickednefs, where he cannot cure it. But it is a great- 
er fatisfaclion to reform the vicicus. Accordingly, when 
he fees his children, under his pious-care and culture, net 
only imbibing religious principles, but their hearts, as clay 
or wax, turned to the fcal, early receiving the belt impref- 
fions, formed to holinefs, and manifefring their fear of God, 
their tendernefs of difpleafing him, and the inward power 
cf vital religion, his heart is hereby filled with fuch 
pleafures, as the men of the world are ftrangers to, and 
overflowing with gratitude to the God of grace, he turns 
his prayers into devout praifes. — A good man hath fweet 
fatisfaclion and delight in fecret converfe with himfeif and 
with his God. Having a confeience void of offence, a 
heart that does not reproach him, he can fpend hours in 
convening with himfeif, with more folid fatisfaclion, than 
others can find in the conversation of their moil intimate 
friends- With the greater): complacency he recounts over 
his mercies, afcribes them all to the unmerited bounty of 
his heavenly Father, receives them as tokens of his pater- 
nal 



IC4 .DESIRING TO SEE JESUS, 

nal care, and fruits of his covenant-love; thus his relifh cf 
them is exceedingly heightened, and he at once delightful- 
ly enjoys both himfeif and his God. When walking or 
riding alone, he views the works of nature with devout 
contemplation. Every herb, or plant, or tree, or animal 
bears evident fignatures of the wifdoni, power, and good- 
rrefs of God, and fo adds wings to his faith, fires his love, 
and draws forth his foul in holy admiration and longing 
defires after a clearer knowledge and a fuller enjoyment 
of the great Author. He marks and admires that rich 
and infinite variety with which the earth is crowned, and 
with what exquifitc fkill its productions are formed, and 
adapted to the feveral ends and defigns of the Creator, 
But in himfeif, his material and immaterial part, he Sods 
more furprifing wonders. Thus a good man is fatisfied 
from himfeif as the inilrument, but God is the author cf 
all bis blifs* 

DESIRING TO SEE JESUS. 

Lord's Joy, Augujl 5. 17 $9. O my foul, do I defire 
to fee Jefus? Db I take pleafare in attending thofe ordi- 
nances, where Chrift is evidently fet forth? where the glo- 
ries of his perfon, and the riches of his grace are difplayed I 
Do I "often think of him in my retirements, and my heart 
go out with warm defires after him? Do I attend to his 
word with this view, that I may know more of Jefus, bear 
his image more, and be formed to a greater meetnefs for the 
vifion and enjoyment of him in heaven? Am I going now 
to his table, that I may fee more of his lovelinefs, difcern 
more clearly my inter eft in him, and derive richer commu- 
nications of ftrength and comfort from him: Is it the lan- 
guage of my heart, O that I may have an humbling, tranf- 

forming 



MERCLES AND THANKS, IO5 

forming fight of Chri-ft! O that I may have fuch an inter- 
view with him, as to increafe my love to him, and infpire 
me with zeal for his honour ! If I thus wait upon the Lord, 
1 mall not be aihamed. Their hearts mall rejoice that thus 
feek him. — —Bleffed be God, I was this day favoured 
with a glimpfe of Jefus at his table. My foul was enlarged 
with ardent love and longing defire. Or ever I was aware, 
my foul made me like the chariots of Amminadib. 

— — £hc^) 

MERCIES AND THANKS. 

Lord^s dny> Augufi 26. 1739. Twenty years I have 
now worn the conjugal yoke ; and, bleffed be God, it hath 
been an eafy yoke. A thoufand family bleffings I have 
received, fince the weight of family cares hath refted on 
my hand. A thoufand inftances of protection in danger, 
direction in perplexity, relief under fears, and Supply of 
wants, have there been, by providential interpofition, for 
me and mine. I have found the ways of the Lord to be 
mercy and truth. His goodnefs and mercy have followed 
me all my days. He hath not feen fit to give me abun- 
dance ; but, bleffed be his name, he hath given me a furn- 
ciency. He hath not lifted me up above a dependence on 
his care, nor ever left me destitute of a fupply. In 
{traits, a way of enlargement hath always been opened to 
me, and not feldom by means unthought of, and from a 
quarter the mod unlikely. I have always found, and ftili 
find, it is good for me to truft in the Lord with all my 
heart, and not lean to my own underfranding, but in all 
my ways to acknowledge him. My miftakes and difficul- 
ties are many, which my folly and rafh inadvertency hath 
plunged me into ; but out of them all the Lord hath de- 
livered me. That God, who hath delivered, and doth 

deliver y 



IC6 MERCIES AND THANKS, [ I ' 

deliver, will ftiil deliver me, if I truft in him. — I have 
been exercifed with many afflictions in thefe laft twentv 
years, particularly the death of five children, all dear to 
me, efpecially the two lad. The rending off fuch branches, 
gave my heart fenfations the moft painful. BleiTtd be 
God, who enabled me quickly, and, I hope, entirely to 
fubmit, without a murmuring word or repining thought, 
becaufe it was his will, becaufe it was his hand. Many 
loffes in trade I have alio fuftained, but they were quickly 
made up to my great advantage. Trials of bodily pain 
I have alfo had, but thefe have been light and few, in 
companion with my deferts. I expect greater trials than 
any I have yet encountered. BlelTed be God, the profpect 
of palling through the valley of the fhadow of death is not 
now terrible. I know whom I have believed, and have 
at prefent a good hope through grace, that he will keep 
what I have committed to him; yea, that he is my God 
for ever and ever, and will be my guide even unto death* 
Though I am weak and impotent, fickle and unliable in 
myfelf, though in myfelf I have nothing to rely upon to 
bear up my finking fpirits in that awful hour, or to recom- 
mend me to the mercy and approbation of my Judge in 
the decifive day ; yet in the Lord have I righteouinefs and 
ftrength. Therefore I will truft in the Lord for ever ; 
yea, I will rejoice in Chrift Jefus, and have no confidence 
in the flefh. BlelTed be God, I have, in innumerable in- 
ftances, felt his drawing power, and experienced a con- 
currence of my will and affecHona. Thfre is nothing, 
I think, I more ardently defire, than to have all the 
powers of my foul brought to an entire compliance with 
his will in all things, that God may be glorified, and 
Chrift may be magnified in me both in life and in death. 
I am, I truft, made willing to be abafed, if God may 
thereby be exalted. I can freely acknowledge myfelf to 
be lefs than nothing, and ooofefs that in my beft eftate 

I am 



MERCIES AND THANKS. tC>7 

I am altogether vanity. I am willing to bear the fliame of 
my finfulnefs, both original and actual, and give unto God 
the whole praife of whatfoever good his free grace hath 
wrought in me or by me. My beft fervices, as they pro- 
ceed from me, I fee are very imperfect and mixed with 
fin ; but, through the interceffion of Chrift, they are a 
fweef odour, a facrifice acceptable and well-pleafing unto 
God. Though I know nothing by myfelf, no fin that I 
either allow or perfift in, none but what I have, I truft, 
fincerely repented of and turned from, and make it my 
daily endeavour to fulfil all righteoufnefs, and to perfect 
holinefs in the fear of God; yet am I not hereby juftified. 
No, I am juftified freely by his grace, through the re- 
demption that is in Chrift Jefus. I found all my hopes of 
falvation in the full fatisfaction he made to divine juftice, 
by his active and paflive obedience. As in our nature and 
(lead he fulfilled all righteoufnefs, and bore the wrath and 
vengeance of the Almighty due to us for fin, and hath 
freely offered the glorious fruits of his purchafe, to as 
many as believe on him, fo I believe, that through my 
faith, which is the gift of God, his righteoufnefs mall be, 
and is imputed to me, as though I myfelf had perfe£tly 
fulfilled the law in my own perfon, aud that I mall be 
faved from the wrath to come; yea, that I have now a 
right to all the privileges of the fons of God ; am, through 
adorable grace, an heir of God, and a joint heir with Jefus 
Chrift ; and. that when Chrift, who' is my life, fnall appear^ 
then fhall I alfo appear with him in glory. 

This thotight tranfporting pleafiare gives, 
I know my dear Redeemer lives, 
And (landing, at the latter day, 
On earth, his glories fhall difplay. 

And though this goodly, mortal frame 
Sink to the duft, from whence it ^ame \ 

Though 



f0'8 MERCIES AND THANKS. C x 739' 

Though buried in the filent tomb, 
Worms mail my fkin and flefh confume : 

Yet on that happy, rifing morn, 
New life this body (hall adorn, 
Thefe active pow'rs refin'd mall be, 
And God my Saviour I mail fee. . 

Though perifh'd all my cold remains, 
Though all confum'd my heart and reigns, 
Yet, for myfelf, my wond'ring eyes 
God fhall behold with glad furprize. 

But though I have this cheerful hope now, whilft death 
is viewed at a diftance, and I am enjoying found health of 
body, vivacity of fpirit, and prosperity in temporal affairs ; 
yet who knows how different an effect death, with its at* 
tending horrors, fhall have on my mind, when it muft be 
viewed in a nearer profpect ? Suppofe I mould die of a 
lingering difeafe, fee my flefh wafting daily, be' exercifed 
with acute pains, have wearifome days and nights appointed 
unto me for a long time, and feel myfelf die by flow de- 
grees : Suppofe infinite Wifdorn mould likewife blaft the 
fruit of all my diligent endeavours, and reduce me to po- 
verty and contempt, fo as to have it (aid of me, " This is 
" he that made fuch a figure in the world !" I Add to all 
this, fuppofe my children, or any of them, mould take 
bad courfes, and fall into fcandalous fins, or deep diitrefs, 
while I was unable to afford them neceffary relief: How 
would fuch circumftmces increafe the anguifh of my mind! 
How fhouid my feeble fpirit fdftain fuch accumulated bur- 
dens ! Certainly I have not in myfelf -power equal to fuch a 
preffure. But is not God all-fufficient ? And hath he not 
promifed, As thy day is., fo jlall thy ftrsngih be P Faith 
can overcome, and triumph over the greatefl: difficulties. 
O my foul, be not faithkfs then, but believing. Let it be 

my 



COUNSEL AND COMFORT, &C IC9 

my daily care to approve my heart and ways unto God, 
and have always a confcience void of offence towards God 
and towards men. In the Lord have I righteoufnefs and 
ftrength. I will fay of the Lord, he is my rock, and 
my fortrefs, my God in whom I will truft, my buckler, 
the horn of my falvation and my high tower. They that 
truft in the Lord, (hall be as mount Sion, which cannot be 
removed, but abideth for eve.. 

COUNSEL AND COMFORT TO THE AFFLICTED. 

[Mr Williams being informed that a pious relative was 
dangeroufly ill of the fmall-pox, he wrote the following 
letter to her filler.] 

Dear Coufin, Saturday, October 20. 1739. 

I have been looking up to him, who is able to heal all 
manner of ficknefs and all manner of difeafe. Teil your 
fifter that Jefus is as able now to raife even from the dead, 
as he was in the days of his fiefh, and as truly fays to us 
now, as he did to the father of him who had the dumb 
and deaf fpirit, If thou can/} believe, all things are pojjible 
to htm that bdievelh. He fays to every one of us, Te be- 
lieve in God, believe alfo in me. Call upon the name of 
the Lord in this hour of diftrefs. He can do what nei- 
ther friends nor phyficians can do. All power is his, 
both in heaven and in earth. Life and death are at his 
difpofal. Surely the power he had on earth is not-dimi- 
nifhed fince his triumphant afcenfion to the Father's right 
hand. With what boldnefs may we now enter into the 
Jiolieft by the blood of Jefus ? Is not this the new and 
living way, which he hath confecrated for us through the 
rail, that is to fay, his flefh, that we may now bring our wants 
* K and 



HO COUNSEL AND COMFORT, &C. C r 739* 

and burdens, our complaints and diftreffes, to Jefus our 
friend, yea our brother, perfuaded that in him dwelleth 
all the fulnefs of the Godhead bodily ? O what a privilege 
to have fuch a friend, fuch a brother ! If the Lord help 
us not, what can creatures do for us, how dear, how 
fympathizing, how fkilful foever ? I hope your filter, un- 
der prefent trials, can look up to him as her God and 
Saviour. I hope (he can fay with Thomas, My Lord, and 
my God I I hope (he hath fled, and is now Hying for re- 
fuge to him, as the hope fet before her ; and then (he may 
cheerfully fay, " Come life, come death, nothing can come 
" amifs to me." 1 hope you, dear Coufin, are conti- 
nually carting all your burdens on the Lord, who will 
fuftain thee. He is faithful who hath promifed. You 
have, I doubt not, abfolutely resigned your fifter, yourfelf, 
all your important interefts to him, who does all things 
well and wifely. I hope my dear and honoured aunt is 
learning by this providence to truft abfolutely in the infal- 
lible promife and unchangeable covenant ; and, under a 
fenfe of her manifold imperfections, to truft in him, whofe 
righteoufnefs is perfect, and go to him for pardon, for 
faith, for fubtaifiion, for conization, for everything me 

wants, or imagines me wants. Before we die, it is 

good to have our paffions dead, our affections mortified to 
every thing below the fun, taken off from the creature, 
and fixed on the great and good Creator. It is kind 
therefore in God to give us now and then a more fenfible 
conviction how unfatisfactory and uncertain created com- 
forts are, that we may thereby be led, or even driven, 
to centre in an unchangeable God, the only proper reft of 
fouls. O that every providence, as well as every ordi- 
nance, may prove a means of lifting us up to the top of 
the mount, to behold the glory of him, who hath loved 
us, and warned us in his blood ! There may he meet us, 
and fill us with his love., cover us with the robe of his 

perfect 



HEAVENLY M1NDEDNES3. Ill 

perfect righteoufnefs, and make us fit together in heavenly 
piaces in Chrifl Jefus. O how happy are the people that 
are in fuch a cafe ! What can they lack, what have they 
to fear, in time, or through all eternity i When once 
their interest in him is cleared up, they may, and muil r 
rejoice with joy unfpeakabie and full of glory. May thefe 
be the happy circumfrances of each of your fouls. Be 
affured, that to commit your prefent forrowful cafe to our 
compainonate Lord, (hall be the daily buiinefs of 

Your, &e. J. W. 

HEAVENLY MINDEDN^SS. 

[In a letter to the Rev. Mr Pearfall, he fays,] 

Dear Brother, March 14. 1740, 

I am thankful for year's. My life is fucfi a confhmt 

hurry, that I could not have thought it fo long fmce I re- 
ceived it. But though my time and labours are fo much 
tngroffed by the world, fure I am, it is not the effect of 
my deliberate choice, or prevailing defire. I very fre- 
quently leave, with great reluctance, what is more eligible 
and dear to my foul, to enter upon the concerns of this 
perilhing life, and am dragged into bullneis by the neceffity 
pf my citcumftances and fituation. When I can difmifs 
all wordly concerns at the clofe cf the day, and retire. 
from a noify world, then I moil agreeably enjoy rnyfelf;. 
then 1 fometimes enjoy feme of my dearert, though abfent 
friends. Q that I could fay, — then I enjoy my God, 
I hope fometimes I do. Some glimpfes I had of him laft 
winter, which mot fuch piercing rays, as I know could 
come from none but him. Indeed, it hath been, as 
Mr Fiavtl often fays, Rara kora } bnvis nwra. O that 

K 2. I co'ol'i-: 



112 THE WISDOM OF NUMBERING OUR DAYS. [174C 

I could walk with him in a more even, fteady, uniform 
manner ! Such influences of his grace, fuch fmiles of his 
pleafed, pleafing countenance, O how have they revived 
my heart, and what a ferenity and fweetnefs have they 
diffufed through all my foul S How have they eclipfed all 
created glories, and enabled me' to look upon and 11 fe this 
world with indifference ! Yea, fuch remarkable interpofi- 
tions of his providence in my favour, and fo many of 
them have I experienced, as may well confirm my humble 
truff, and even confidence in him, whatfoever difficulties 
he may be pleafed to exercife me with. Well do T 
know, that he careth for me, even for me, and interefts 
himfelf in nvy affairs. Blefs the Lord, O my foul, and all 
that is within me blefs his holy name. 

THE WISDOM OF NUMBERING OUR DAYS. 

Lord's day, Avgujl ic. 1740. So teach us io number our 
days, that que may apply cur hearts unto avifdom. Alas ! 
how fhort is human life, when extended to its utmoft 
length? Rut how very uncertain whether my life will be 
fo protracted? The period of it is indeed certain to him 
that gave and fupports it. The number of my days is 
written in the book of God's decrees ; he hath appointed 
its bounds, which I cannot pafs, but hath wifely concealed 
it from my knowledge. To me it is altogether uncertain, 
which year, month, or day I mud make my exit from the 
ftage of this mortal life. What proportion does this life 
bear to fucceeding eternity? What proportion do mortal 
joys bear to never ending mifery; or, thefe light afflictions, 
the fufrerings of this prefent time, to the glory that mall be 
revealed in us, the far more exceeding and eternal weight 
of glory ? The work of life is great and important, and 
bow littleof it is already done? Ccnfider, O my foul, thefe 

two 



THE WISDOM OF NUMBERING- OUR/ DAYS. M^ 

two things, what hare I been doing, and what doth my 
hand find to do? What have Ibeen doing? Let con- 
ference now give a faithful account. Much bufinefs lies 
upon my hands in the affairs and concerns o£ this life. It 
is my prevailing defire to have my heart, at leaft, lefs taken 
up therewith. Sure I arrr, (ludies of a religious nature are 
more delightful to me than worldly purfuits. I have never 
more enjoyment of myfelf than in reading or mufing on 
things of a religious tendency. But ftiil what have I ac- 
tually been doing? I think two-thirds of ray waking time 
have been taken up in worldly purfuits of one kind or other* 
I can fay, I have therein of late been reluctant, and a fenfe 
of duty to be diligent in my calling, hath been a muchilrong- 
er motive with me, for many years, than the love of gain, or 
defire of increafe. I have fpent, perhaps, one-tenth patt of 
my time in bodily refrefhments, which is not fo much, I 
hope, as hath been laid out in religious exercifes, and 
means for improving my mind. But, alas! how little of 
my time hath been filled up with fecret prayer and devout 
meditation ! How little have I done in combating with my 
corruptions and Jufts 1 How little in cherifhing Chriftian 
graces and holy difpofitions! Yet, hope, I find and feei 
my corruptions are grown weaker, and my temptations 
are more refifted, and eafier overcome, than formerly. 
The Lord Jefus Chrift was never more precious to me. 
My faith in him was never more lively or more ftrong. 
My zeal for his honour was, i hope, -never more genuine. 
My pride was never more mortified. I never was more 
difpofed to (trip myfelf of all honour or merit, that God 
alone might be exalted. The world was never more cru- 
cified to me, or I unto the world, and this, 1 hop,., by the 
crofs of my Lord Jefus Chrift. Never was I more care- 
ful to redeem the time, or more concerned at milpending 
it. But ftill I am frequently confeious of too much re- 
miffnefs in duties of religion, as well as in my fecuiar cal- 
K J; ling 



114 MEDITATION AMONG THE TOMBS. [174C, 

ling. By the grace of God I am what I am.— Well then, 
What have I to do? To be more diligent in my worldly 
bufinefs, that I may redeem the more time from it. To 
be more in reading the fcriptures and practical divinity, 
and in meditation and fecret prayer. To be more mindful 
of the fhortnefs and uncertainty of life, and the unfatisfying 
nature of all created comforts, and to converfe more with 
death and the world of fpirits. More to exercife an un- 
iliaken truft in God, in his providence and promifes, in his 
care and faithfulnefs. More to inltruc't, exhort, watch 
over, and pray for my children. More to govern my 
paflions, and maintain a calmnefs, meeknefs of fpirit, and 
equanimity arnidft all the little provocations and difappoint- 
ments I meet with. Lord, who is fufficient for thefc 
things r Thy grace is fufficient forme. I can do all things 
through Chriit which flrengtheneth me. 

MEDITATION AMONG THE TOMBS. 

Tuefday, September 2. 1740. I have been this evening 
in the church-yard, converfing with thofe who cannot now 
converfe with me. There I found dear Mr Spilfbury * of 
venerable memory, who being dead, yet fpeaketh. A vi- 
gilant paftor was he. Bleffed faint. 1 whofe works follow, 
•him.— There I found my dear father, with whom I have 
often taken fweet counfel. A father of precious memory 
to me. BlefTed be God for his inftruclions, and for his 
corrections too, even the fevereft of them. It grieves me 
to think that ever I grieved him; bat he hath forgiven me. 
Does he in heaven hear how I am going on ? Ah ! how 
much does he hear amifs of me ! May I To behave as to 
increafe his joy !— There alfo I found five dear delightful 

children.. 

* He was nephew to Dr John Hall, Biihop of Briftol, and died 
Tan. 31. 1727, after (pending thirty-four years as a difienting 
naoifter in Kidderpainfter. 



MEDITATION AMONG THE TOMBS. JI£ 

children. How much did I promife rayfelf from them ! 
and while continued with me, how much did I enjoy- 
in them! Sweet babes! you all, I truft, are not only 
delivered from the burden of the fiefh, and from a 
world of guilt and grief, but are employed in the high 
praifes of your bountiful Creator, your compaffionate Re- 
deemer, and glorious Sanctifier. Though here you knew, 
and were capable of knowing, but little ; yet now you fee, 
not as I, through a glafs darkly, but face to face, and are 
for ever ravifhed with divine love. How does the glorified 
fpirit of your dear grandfather embrace your kindred fpirits> 
and teach you fome of the fongs of Heaven ! But how 
little do I know of your bufinefs or bleffednefs ! When 
fhall the day come, that I fliall be admitted to partake cf 
your joys ! I will fay with Mr Baxter, 

" May fuch a finful worm as I 

§< Afpire and afcend fo high? 

" That kingdom's mine, in hope and rights 

* Which you poffefs in love and fight. 

" That God, that Chrift hath loved me, 

" Whofe glory your bleft eyes do fee*" 

And with Mr Mafon, 

" O happy place ! when mall I be, 

" My God, with thee, to fee thy face?'* 

&>o^ — - 

MEDITATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

Saturdy night, July 4. 1 741. O my foul, I have in 
view an opportunity of commemorating the death of my 
dear Lord Jefus; yea, I am invited to feaft upon his body 
and blood. It is a feaft of his own providing. He is the 
mafter of the feaft, and he condefcends to fup with his 
guefts, that- we may/^ with him. He gires us himfelf* 

his 



I I 6 MEDITATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. [1741* 

his iighteoufnefs and merits, the fruits of his perfect obe- 
dience and atoning facriiice. He gives the pardon of Gn r . 
peace with God, juftirlcuion, adoption, fan edification, ailur- 
ance of his love, joy in the Hoi)' Ghoft, a growing conformi- 
ty to himfelf, a growing hatred to fin, a growing love to God 
and holinefs, mortification of our iufts, crucifixion to the 
world, viclory over temptations, and over death itfelf. Thefe 
we receive in feeding on him by faith, and reftingupon him, 
He fups with vs. We offer up to him our hearts in \o\c 
and devout affections, in cheerful praife and felf- dedication, 
grieving for our difobedience and ingratitude to him, and 
forgetfulnefs of him, and of his unfpeakable love. We re- 
joice in his love, hope in his mercy, take an holy revenge 
on his murderers, and renew our refolutions to behave in 
a manner more worthy our relation and obligations to him. 
Communion prefuppofes union, and union agreement. Am 
I then united to (Thrift ? Do I love what he loves, and hate 
what he hates? Are his friends my friends, and his enemies 
my enemies ? He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit. 
Kave I the Spirit of Chrift? Am I led by his fpirit? Thus 
have I communion with Chrift? Ah! what reafon have I to 
afk myfelf in- Mr Mafon's mournful accents, 

"■Where is my faith? Where is my hoper"" 
« Where is my fervent love?" 

Alas ! it is with me a day of fmall things. Yet I have 
great encouragement, flrong and powerful motives, to ftir 
up thefe heavenly graces, Many and great favours have I. 
received. What is it to be freed in fome good meafure 
from the bondage of corruption, the power and dominion 
of fin? and to have a readinefs to will that which is good? 
Shall not he who hath begun the good work in me. perfect it 
unto the day of Jefus Chrift? What is it to have accnfcience 
void of offence? And lhould not God alone have the praife 
of this ? He found me running aftray, and brought me back 

t€- 



SANCTIFYING THE LORD'S DAY. 1 1 7 

to his fold. He implanted in me a fear of difpleafing, and 
a care to pleafe him. Hitherto he hath kept me by his 
mighty power. What is it to enjoy inward peace and fe- 
renity of mind, many comforts in hand, and a joyful hope 
of infinitely greater in reverfion ? Surely I have great reafon 
to be thankru!, and to prajfe him for fpiritual bleffings. 
And how fignal have his mercies been to me in temporal 
favours! How many and evident to me are the interpofi- 
tions of his kind and bountiful providence ! How diftrefling 
might my circumftances new have been ! How large was 
his bounty, and how fmall my deferts! How many blef- 
fings hath God beftowed on me, which I never prayed for! 
I am grieved for my unthankful nefs, but not enough. I 
might have had the Waft of Gcd upon my increafe, and 
why hath not this been the cafe ! O let me never forget to 
make this an offering of praife, and prefent it daily to my 
gracious God. Many have had their fubftance confumed 
by devouring flames; let me not forget his preventing good- 
nefs and preferring care. What a mercy is it to have fait- 
able friends, and defirable enjoyment of them! It is God, 
who makes them what they are to me. A loving wife 
and dutiful children are the bleffings of God. What a 
mercy to have a found mind in a found body ! O that my 
life may be wholly filled up with obedience, love and praife 1 

SANCTIFYING THE LGRD's DAY. 

Lord's day, November i. 1741. O my foul, now is a 
time for ferlons reflection. Sabbaths return, and point 
out to me the will of God, that there fnould be intercourfe 
between heaven and earth. He is calling me off from 
worldly cares and purfuits, to attend to nobler and more 
important fervices. It is his will that I fiiould now reft 

m toil and labour, and this in order to mv preparation 

for 



Ii8 SANCTIFYING THE LORD'S DAY. C'74 1 - 

for eternal reft. Heaven is my home, my reft; but how 
indifpofed is mv mind to the joys and praifes of the blef- 
kd (late. A mid ft a crowd of cares, how are the powers 
of my foul fettered ! How feldom do I look within the 
vail! and when I do, alas! how imperfect, how tranfient 
is the glance! How feeble are the afpirations of my foul 
towards God, though he is the centre of my wifhes, and 
the life of all my joys! Lord, I have none in heaven or 
earth in ccmparifon of thee, and yet how cold is my love 
to thee 1 How fiat and languid my praifes of thee ! Ho\^ 
fickle and partial is my truft in thee ! Sacraments return, 
and /how thy will, that there mould be intimate, endear- 
ing transitions betwixt my foul and thy great felf. Thou 
art ready to feal to, me the covenant, on thy part, to be a 
God to me, net mere 1 y as my Creator, Preftrver, and Be- 
nefactor, but my Pert- on, my Shield, and my exceeding 
great Reward, to pardon all my fins, to fubdue my cor- 
ruptions, to ftrengthen me againft all temptations, by the 
communications of thy light, and life, and love. Thus 
thou art ready to make me thy workmanfhip, by changing 
the bias of my will, embittering fin to me, enabling me to 
hate and forfake it, mewing me my abfolute need of a Sa- 
viour, his fuitablenefs and ali-fafficiency, and difpefing me 
to receive and embrace him, and truft in him alone for 
lightecufnefs, and tuning my heart to love and praife. 
Lord, thou art ready to do all this for me; yea, thou had: 
in part already done it. Shall I not be ready cheerfully 
and cordially to feal to thee ! Surely, my God, I am un- 
der the mod endearing ties and obligations to thee, 
Though 1 fhould refufe to yield mvfelf to thee ; though I 
mould neglect thy iervice, and eftrange my heart from 
thee; yet ftiil the obligation abides, and I (hall be found 
ungrateful and inexcufeable. But, O my Lord, both duty 
and intereft call upon me to feal to thy covenant, and 
make over myfelf, my all to thee. I am no where io fare 

as 



SANCTIFYING THE LCRD*S DAY. Up 

as under thy protection, in no circumftances fo happy as in 
the enjoyment *-of thy love ; and thou art ever ready, 
whenever I give myfelf to thee, to make over thyfelf to 
me. Thefe very covenant-tranfactions, which convey my 
heart to thee, with all I am and have, give me at the 
fame time, a fare claim to thee, as my God, and an inte- 
rest in thy glorious perfections. And furely there is e- 
nough in thee, to fill my foul with peace, and to fatisfy 
every craving defire. What can I wifh for, which an in- 
tereft in God, as my God, does not contain ! Do I defire 
riches? No. I hope, I believe, the love of God hath 
mortified this fordid luft. At lead, I hope my will is fo 
fwallowed up in thy will, that I defire profperity and in- 
creafe of worldly goods, chiefly to increafe my public ufe- 
fulnefs, and be capacitated to do more for God, for his 
poor, and the fupport of his interefr. And is not this the 
likelieft way to obtain my wifh; Do I defire the favour 
of God, to live a life of communion with him here, and to 
enjoy his uninterrupted fmiles for ever ? I hope I do. I 
hope there is nothing in the world I prize fo highly, or 
defire fo earneftly. And is not this the way to obtain it? 
In devoting myfelf to God, I empty my heart of every 
thing elfe. I get an affecting fenfe of the emptinefs and 
infiifticiencv of all other comforts, and labour to excite an 
hungering, thirfting defire after God. I apprehend hirn 
to be abfoluteiy neceffary to my foul's prefent repofe and 
future felicity. I earneftly defire him as fuch, and long 
after fellowfhip with him. And is not this the way to be 
filled? In every flrait, I have always found it good to truft 
in God, and have often faid, God will provide. He hath 
provided accordingly. He that careth and provideth for 
ravens, for young lions, yea for every infect, will he not 
much more care for men, and raoft of all for them that 
trufl: him, and have devoted themfelves wholly to him ? 
Is not this a part of my work, in my covenant-tranfactions, 

to 



120 SELF-EXAMINATION C I /4 I « 

to flrengthen and exercife my faith in his providence, to 
make a frefh furrender of myfelf, all I am* and all I have 
to him, and put in my claim for a fhare of his providential 
kindnefs and care? Is not this the way to have his blefling 
on what he intrufts me with, be it little or much ? There- 
fore will I feal to my God, to be entirely under the direc- 
tion of his preceptive will, and entirely fubmiffive and re- 
ilgned to his diipofing will. Whatever is his will mall be 
mine, through Chrift (lengthening me, and the fupply of 
the Spirit of Jefus. I will truft in the Lord for ever, lince 
I know that in the Lord Jehovah is everlafling flrength* 

SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

Saturday evening t December 5. 1741. I have been cal- 
led upon, this evening, to fearch and try myfelf, preparatory 
to the folemn feaft I have in view, whether I am favingly 
converted, and brought fincerely into covenant with God ; 
whether I confcientioufly obferve God in his goings in the 
fanctuary, and in the world; and whether I have been 
owned of God, fo that he hath fettled- upon me, and fecu- 
red to me, the ineftimable bleffings of his covenant. It is 
a vain thing to deceive myfelf in fo important a concern. 
Speaking peace and fafety to my own foul will not fecure ma 
from Almighty vengeance. It is therefore the greateft fol- 
ly in the world to perfuade myfelf, that my ftate.is good 
and fafe, if it be not fo. The day is coming, yea it may 
be at hand, when I mall be tried and examined in another 
manner by him, before whofe eyes hell and deftruction lie na- 
ked, how much more then the hearts of the children of men ! 
What will it avail me, to draw a vail over my fins! If I 
indulge iniquity, I may be fure my fin 'will find me cut. 
Let me therefore fet myfelf as in the prefence of God, and 
fift, and try, and judge my heart and ways.— A long time 

I have 



HEAYEN IS THE CHRISTIANS HOME. 121 

I have entertained hopes, that my heart is right with God, 
though in many refpecls my obedience hath been defective; 
but am I not deceived: Let me examine thofe defects I am, 
confcious of, and fee whether they are the fpots of God's 
children. Undoubtedly my mafter-fin is pride. This hath 
formerly puffed me up with too high a conceit of rnyfelf, 
and made me think too meanly of others. It hath made me 
impatient of contradiction. It hath filled me with too keen 
a refentment of flights and injuries, fometimes with evil fur- 
mifings, and hath often broke out in ungoverned paffion. 
But how is it with me now with refpecl to thefe things ? 
What can I anfv/er to rny fovereign Judge, if I were now 
unclothed, and (landing at his bar, and interrogated con- 
cerning the pride of my heart and life ?- Can I appeal to 
him, Lord, thou that knoweft all things, knoweft that I 
hate pride, and that the workings and prevalence thereof 
are the matter of my grief, and the burden of my foul? 
Can I fay, Lord, thou knoweft it is what I have, in the 
fincerity of my foul, and with tears, often and earneftly 
begged at thy hands, that thou would ft hide pride from me, 
that I may be poor in fpirit, and mean in my own eyes, 
and this from an humble fenfe of my original depravity and 
vilenefs, the treachery of my heart, together with my ma- 
nifold backflidings and innumerable offences againft thee? 
Is it not the unfeigned defire of my foul, to be vile and 
bafe in my own eyes, and do I not reject, with abhorrence 
and deteftation the workings of pride, as focm as I difcover 
them ? Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me, 
and know my thoughts, and fee if there be any wicked way 
in me, and lead me in the way everlafting. 

^o<-© — — 

HEAVEN 13 THE CHRISTIAN'S HOME. 

fin a letter to a diftant correfpondent, who knew more of 

ls than trade, and therefore wondered at Mr WiJ- 

* L Hams's 



I2Z HEAVEN IS THE CHRISTIAN'S HOME. [174I.. 

Ham's not being at home to anfwer his letters with fpeed, 
is the, following paffage:] 

December 26. 174T. I thank you for your kind con- 
gratulation, and for the ferious hint you give me, that Kid- 
dermjnfter is not my home. This puts me in mind of a 
verfe in the pious Dr Watts's hymns, 

" Let cares like a wild deluge come. 

" And ftorms of forrow fall ; 
" May I but fafely reach my home, 

" My God, my heaven, my all." 

And likewife that of the truly devout Herbert, many of 
uhofe old-fafhioned odes I greatly admire, 

" tVe talk of harvefts. There are no fuch things, 

" Until we leave our corn and hay. 
" There is no fruitful vear, but that which brings 

" Our lad, and lov'd, though dreadful day. 

€i What have I here, that I mould flay, and groan ; 

-" The mod of me to heaven is fled. 
4£ My thoughts and joys are ail pack'd up and gone, 

<4 And for their old acquaintance plead." 

I hope I can indeed fay, that as here I have no continuing 
city, or abode, fo I am feeking and looking for one to 
come; that my treafure is in heaven, and that my heart is 
there alfo, (O that it were morel) and that I value and 
rfteem all my enjoyments here below, only as means to 
. help me in my way thither. Adored for ever be that free, 
rich, diftinguiftiing -grace, which turned and inclined my 
heart, fo perverfe by nature, to bend my courfe heaven- 
ward. 

MM UNION 



COMMUNION WITH GOD. 



COMMUNION WITH GOD. 

WednefJay, February 17. 1742. I would now record, 
(O that I might do it with a fingle eye. to his glory, whofe 
I am, and to whom 1 am under millions of obligations!) « 
a frefh inftance of the quickening influence of the Holy 
Spirit, coming upon me like a mighty fwelling tide, capti- 
vating my whole foul, and bearing away my affections full 
fail from earth and fenfe up to the celeftial throne, and giv- 
ing me a glimpfe of the glory that is to be revealed, and a 
tafte of thofe joys that are unutterable, which fpring from 
the throne of God and of the Lamb. I was employed this 
evening in the twilight, in a brandy of my trade, and re- 
volving in my mind thefe lines of Dr Watts, 

"■ He will prefent our fouls 
" UnblemiuVd and complete, 
u Before the glory of his face, 

" With joys divinely great," 

When, fudden almoft as a flam, of lightning, my foul was 
ravifhed with a joyful affurance, that my Saviour, my Jefus, 
will one day prefent my worthlefs foul, denied as it now 
is, before the prefence of his glory, purified from every 
(lain, refined from all its drofs, and made meet for the 
heavenly fociety and employment with exceeding joy. 
My joys Were fo big, they muft have vent. Inftantly. 
I retired, and falling on my knees before my God and 
Saviour, my foul was- drawn out in fuch humble adorations, 
fuch glowing thankfulnefs for all the methods of diftin- 
guifhing grace, fuch deep humiliation from a fenfe of my 
unworthinefs of fuch high favours, particularly on accoun- 
of the inaccuracy of my canverfation ; and, at the fame 
time, felt my heart warmed with fuch ardent love, and 
earneft defires after a fuller enjoyment of him whom my 

£u2 ftul 



*-H COMMUKIOK WITH GOD. [ I /42» 

foul loves, as, I think, I fcarce ever before experienced. 
I could not but ddire, if it were lawful, that my diffolu- 
ticn and departure hence might be haftened, that ! might 
be mth Chiiit I alio found and expFeflfed a wtllingnds 

as long as God had any work for me to do here 
that might be for his glory ; yea, to fray his time, to fuffer, 
as well as co= his will. I was led particularly to praife the 
bkiied-Jefus, with a melting heart and flowing eyes, for 
what he had done tor me, as living, dying, and interceding, 
and by the renewing, fanctirying, and comforting influences 
@>f his Spirit; while a vigorous faith led me to believe in 
-. and to ad: re and piaiie him for what he will do yet 
iier fcr me. I then laid, 

Thou wilt prefent mj foul 
UiVbleruho'd and complete, 
Before the glory of thy face, 
With joys divinely great. 

It was to me a fweet foretafte of the divine joy, which 
the (pints of jiift men' made perfect have on their firft ad- 
rmflion to the realms of glory. Surely this high elevation 
is to fortify me agair.it fome approaching trial by cafting 
down, and to bear up my foul again ft fome fudden fhock 
ef adver.fity. - I had lately fuch a hint fet home upon me 
in reading Dr Sibbs's Soul's Conflict. Lord, thy will, 
not mine, be done. Here I am, do with 'me as thou 
cleafeft. 

il What finners value, I refign ; 

" Lord, 'tis" enough that thou art mine : 

" I fhall behold thy blifsfd face. 

" And ftand complete in rightecufnefs." 

Or if fuch an event is not near, I am fure it calls for great 

humility, great watchfulnefs and circumfpection, that I may 

:n my profeiTion, and walk worthy of the Lord unto 

all 



CHRIST TN US THE HOPE OF GL'ORV. Wf 

all weh-pleafing, that I may not grieve his Spirit, ard 
forfeit his prefence and quickening aids, but by a lel:-dtny- 
ing humility and obedience may be prepared to receive 
farther gracious vifits. 

CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY, 

Saturday night, March 20. 1742. I have been medha^ 
ing on that expreflion, Chrijl in you the hope cf £:ory, 
Surely there is fuch a thing as Chrift in the true Chriftian, 
without which all his knowledge concerning Chrift will 
avail nothing to falvation. There is fuch a thing as an 
union between Chrift and every fincere believer. There 
js an union of hearts. Chrift loved the church, and gave 
himfeif for it. To them that believe he is precious. 
Believers evidence their love to Chrift, by fcrfaking ail 
other lovers, devoting and giving up themfelves entirely to 
fe eking and expecting their fupreme happinefs in com- 
munion with him, and enjoyment of his love. — There is 
■Mb an union of interefts. Chrift delights in the jcy and 
profperity of his members. Thefe things have I (aid unto 
you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy 
might be full. They alfo delight to advance his glory and 
the profperity of his kingdom. They rejoice, when .. 
gofpel is received, and fouls are made willing to con 
with the terms of his covenant. — From union proceed re- 
ciprocal communications. He communicates to them grace 
and ftrength, life and fruitfuinefs, and they bring :\ 
fruit to and for him. The pious breathings of their fc 
in prayers and praifes, in ardent love and longing dc 
after him, are his delight. He imparts to them the cuic- 
kening influences of his Spirit, for which they make a 
on in vigorous faith and holy obedience. He comforts 
tb&D with the conizations of his Spirit; the fkvour of 
L 3 which 



126 CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLOR*. [l742» 

v/klch afcends to him in holy joy, nor lefs in deep humi- 
liation, from a fenfe of their unworthinefs. They profefs 
their weaknefs and insufficiency,, and he gives them ftrength 
for duty and fuccour in temptation. They confefs and 
mourn before him their lufts, corruptions, and mifcarriages, 
and he fends peace and pardon. They look to him as the 
difpenfer of their afflictions and croiTes, and humbly fub- 
mit to theri|, and patiently acquiefce in them, as coming 
from his hand, and as the demerit of their (ins. Not- 
withftanding the interpofition of thefe clouds, he reveals 
the conftancy of his love, mews them his all-fufficiency 
for their fupport, and appoints to them a gracious iffue, 
and complete deliverance, even a far more exceeding and 
eternal weight of glory. Thus their hope of future glory 
s derived from union. As they love and believe in him, 
they cannot but love and believe his gofpel, which hath 
brought life and immortality to light in clearer and brighter 
<difcoveries> than ever the church had before been bleffed 
with. They contemplate, with wonder and delight, the 
heavenly inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and 
that fadeth not away. Their faith is firmly perfuaded, 
that there really remaineth a reft for the people of God* 
Though it be requifite that they who are fet for the defence 
of the gofpel, mould produce other evidences of its divine 
original ; yet I mppofe any experienced Chriftian, who is 
raffed from death unto life, and is united to Chrift by faith 
and love, hath fucTi an internal evidence of its divine 
Hiiffion, as is far more convincing and fatisfaclory to his 
mind, than all other evidences deduced from prophecies 
and facts compared together. — The believer's union with 
Chrift is farther productive of his hope of glory, as Chrift 
gives him in the gofpel the plained, fulleft, and richeft pra- 
imifes of eternal life. This is the record that God hath 
given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Chrift 
died to> purchafe this glory for us, and by .his fifing again 

frgm 



PROMOTING PIETY IN A DAUGHTER. 227 

from the dead he gave us a pledge of our refurrection to 
everlafting happinefs. By his Spirit, which dwells in his 
people, he gives them an earneft of their inheritance, until 
the redemption of the purchafed poffeflion. He is gone 
before to prepare manfions for them in his Father's houfe, 
and will come again and receive them unto himfelf, that 
where he is, there they may be alfo. How great and 
manifold are the Chriftian's obligations to Chrift ! How 
miferable the ftate of fuch as are without Chrift, having 
no hope ! How happy the ftate of all that are united to 
Chrift and interefted in him! Their hope of glory may 
well palliate all their cares, moderate .their affections to 
things below, calm their paffions, fupport them under 
prefiing griefs, fweeten religious duties, give them boldnefs 
and accefs, with confidence,, to the throne of grace, foften 
a bed of languishing, and fortify them againft the fears of 
death. It is true, all that are united to Chrift have not a 
comfortable hope of glory, but they have folid ground for 
hope. It is for want of more conftant exercife of faith in 
Chrift, that their hope is not more lively and joyful. How 
careful then mould we be to cherifh and cultivate this 
bleffed hope ! How careful mould thofe be, who are dili- 
gent in the work of the Lord, and full of good fruits, to 
fhew the fame diligence, to the full aflurance of hope unto 
the end. 

PROMOTING PIETY IN A DAUGHTER, 

[To one of his daughters, Mr Williams wrote the follow- 
ing letter.] 

Dear Child, July 2. 1742. 

My heart's defire and prayer to God for you is, that 
you may be favsd. Our bleffed Saviour hath left it on 

record; 



I2S PROMOTING PIETY IN A DAUGHTER. [1742. 

record, that in his days the kingdom of heaven fuffered 
violence, and the violent took it by force; that is, perfons 
were awakened by John the BaptiiVs preaching, and his own, 
to a ferious concern about their falvation, and to fee the ne- 
eeflity of repentance in order to falvation. And elfewhere . 
our Lord tells his difciples, that many fhall feek to enter in at 
the ftrait gate, and (hall not be able. From whence it is 
plain, that falvation is not to be obtained without much 
labour and diligence. — I have blamed myfelf many a time 
for not faying more, and fpeaking oftener, to you on this 
head, in order to quicken you now, in this your day, to 
give diligence to make your calling and election fure. And 
I mould have been glad to have heard from you oftener. 
But there is, I know, an unaccountable fhynefs in young 
perfons to open their minds freely about matters relating 
to their fouls, and their everlafting intereft — I hope you 
have chofen the good part. I fee nothing blameable in 
your conduct, nor would I difcourage you, or excite need- 
iefs- fears in your mind. But yet, how it is betwixt God 
and your foul is bed known to God and yourfelf. And 
it is a matter of fach vail importance, whether you are 
really converted, and faving'y interested in Chrift, or not,- 
that you will, I doubt not, bear with me when I tell you,, 
that I cannot but be defircus of fuller fatisfaclion about this 
grand point; and the more fo, becaufe I cannot but fear 
thoufands have deceived themfelves by refting. in a bare 
profeflion, and in a name that they live, while they have 
been dead in trefpafies and fins. If your cafe be good and 
right, it will bear examination; and if it be otherwlfe, it 
is high time to ufe your ntmoft diligence, in order to make 
it better. I would therefore not only put you upon a clofe 
and careful examination of yourfelf, as foon as you can get 
leifure for it, but would likewife gladly affift you therein, 
as well as I can. For this blefTed purpofe, I would pro- 
pofe ta.jou.tWO querie?* to which; after a careful examina- 
tion 



NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH. I 29 

tion of yourfelf, I defire you would fet down your anfwers 
in writing ; as I fuppofe, you can do that with greater eafe 
and freedom than by fpeaking to me; and- let me have 
your writing in a few days. I would afk you therefore, 
and put you upon afking yourfelf, 

Have you reafon to hope, that you are really converted, 
and favingly interefred in Chrift ? 

What are the grounds of your hope, or what evidences 
have you, that you are interefted in Chrift ? 

The day is coming, when you will be judged by him 
that fearcheth your heart. If your heart condemn you 
now, you may reafonably fear God will- condemn you, who 
is greater than your heart, and knoweth all things. But 
if, upon an impartial examination of yourfelf, your- heart 
condemns you not, then have you confidence towards God. 
If we would judge ourfelves, we ihould not be judged ; 
that is, we (hall not be condemned. Therefore be at pains 
about this great concern, chiefly for your own advantage, 
and in a fubordinate degre'e for the fatisfaction of your 
affectionate parent, J. W. 

NARROW ESCAPE F.ROM DEATH. 

Saturday night, September 11. 1742. I have lately had 
my hope tried, and it hath been found an anchor of my 
foul, both fare and ftedfaft, and which entereth into that 
within the vail. This day fortnight, by the fall of a frame 
of timber, my life was in jeopardy, fo that I could not 
tell, after my undemanding and fenfes returned to me, 
whether my ilcull was fractured or not. Words cannot 
fully exprefs what a noble, what a divine cordial it was to 
my throbbing heart, in that awful hour, when my life 
hung in fufpenfe, that I had a prevailing hope, yea a fatis- 
fy* n g joyf\il affurance, that death could not hurt me,, that 

its 



1$0 NARROW ESCAPE FROxM DEATH. [*742. 

its fling was taken away, and my everlafting intereff. feeured. 

how fweet and dear was an ali-fijiScient Saviour then 
to my foul ! I had not indeed impatient longings of foul 
to be gone, nor fuch raviihing fenfe of his love, as might 
make me defirous to depart, and to be with him, though 

1 know it is far better. The fight of my wife and chil- 
dren, for whofe comfort and welfare I felt then a more 
anxious care than for my own, and in whofe countenances 
I plainly beheld all the marks of moft tender concern for 
me, together with fome other confiderations, made me, 
1 think* more than willing, if it were the will of God, to 
abide longer in the fleih. But I had fuch a firm faith in 
God's all-fufficiency to provide for them, and difpofe of 
them in the beft manner, that I had no anxiety of any 
kind, and fo far as I remember, had a pleafing enjoyment 
of rnyfelf in an entire refignation to the divine will. My 
deliverance was great, and calls for great thankfulnefs. 
A wife, a righteous, a watchful, and gracious providence 
was difplayed both in wounding and healing me. If a 
fparrow falls not to the ground without our heavenly 
Father, much lefs does a rational being. If Job, plun- 
dered by Sabeans and Chaldeans, could fay, The Lord hath 
token away^ certainly his hand was not lefs evident, when 
a frame of timber, which no mortal had touched an hour 
before, mould fall on me, as foon as I came under it. 
Poflibly I might have efcaped, had I apprehended the 
danger near ; but though I heard a cram, and an imme* 
diate outcry, I was utterly fearlefs, imagining the danger 

' to be on the remote fide, becaufe the workmen were there. 
Spectators expected, that, if my fkull was not fractured, at 
lead: fome of my limbs were broken.. But, blefied be my 
kind Preferver, no pernicious effects enfued. How com- 
plete was the mercy! I might have been a burden to my 
family, a fpectacle of pity and horror, dragging out an 
vfelefs life in pain and mifery,— He fhall give his angels 

charge. 



MEDITATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. IJI 

charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. He keep- 
eth all thy bones, not one ,of them is broken. Blefs the 
Lord, O my foul, and all that is within me, blefs his 
holy name. 

MEDITATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. 

Saturday night, Aqgufl 6. 1743. Confider, O my foul, 
wherefore did the Lord of glory leave it, as his dying 
""charge, that by eating bread and drinking wine we mould 
{hew forth his death until he come to judgment ? Why 
mud Chriftians, in their religious affemblies, frequently re- 
peat this fcrvice? Doubtlefs it is inftituted for our good. 
It is no fmall thing, to believe unto falvation/ Faith is 
the gift of God, a fupernatural work, yet is not wrought 
without outward means. The Spirit ufeth means to begin 
faith, and alfc* to cherifh it, and carry it on from faith to 
faith, from lower to higher degrees. It is a great thing 
to truft for righteoufnefs to juftify me, for ftrength to forti- 
fy me againit temptations, for fjccour under all adverfity, 
and for eternal life, as a reward of grace not of debt. It 
is a great thing, to truft for all this in one that died, who 
being fcund in fafhion as a man, humbled himfeif, and be- 
came obedient unto death. Surely I have need to be 
well fatisfied, that he is ab ! e to do all this for me, able to 
fave to the uttermoft all that come unto God by him, and 
that he is as willing as able. u According to the record 
of infallible truth, He is the true God, and eternal life. He 
is over all, God bleffcd for ever. In him dwelleth all the 
fulnefs of the Godhead bodily. He it is, who declared, Him . 
that cometh unto me, I will in no wife caft out. Faith may 
with fecurity reft on fach a promife from fuch a one, though 
there were not another in all tfie book of God. But our 
Lord knew our wea-knefs, our ficklenefs and for- 

getfulnefs"' 



IJ2 MEDITATION BEFORE THE LORD'S SUPPER. [1743. 

getfulnefs of him ; he knew how ineffectual our folemn 
vows would be, to keep us clofe to him, and how ufeful 
fenfible figns would be, to renew the exercife of our faith 
in him. If the yearly keeping of the paffover was not 
fufficient to prevent Ifrael's running into idolatry, though 
in that folemnity was a lively reprefentation of their mira- 
culous deliverance from Egyptian bondage, how much lefs 
would a bare narration have done it? So our bleffed Lord 
knew, that the bare preaching of his gofpel, and declaring 
what he had done and fuffered for our redemption from fin 
and wrath, would not have been fufficient, from age to 
age, to cherifh faith in him, and therefore appointed bread 
to be broken, in remembrance of his body broken for us, 
and to be diftributed among believers, and eaten by them, 
in token of his body being offered to them, with all his 
benefits, and received by them as the bread of life, by 
which their fouls mud be fed and nourifhed unto eternal 
life. In like manner, he appointed wine to be poured out, 
to reprefent his blood (lied on the crofs for them, and to 
be diftributed among them, that every one mould drink of 
it, in token of their trufling in him, to wafh away their 
fins by his blood. — Now, O my foul, .with what temper of 
mind ihould I approach this gofpel-feaft ? I muft, under 
thefe fymbols, receive Chrift Jefus the Lord. In taking 
the bread, tliis Lamb of God, with all the bleffings of his 
purchafe, is freely offered to me. As this bread was bro- 
ken, fo I believe the body of Chrift, in his agony, fcourg- 
ing, and crucifixion, was broken, wounded, bruifed, and 
chaftened for my iniquities. My foul refts on the fulnefs 
of that atonement he hath made to the juftice of God for 
my fins, the remiflion of which I now receive by faith in 
him. I alfo receive all needful grace, in proportion to the 
various occauons of the Chriftian life. Do I lack wifdom, 
meeknefs, courage, humility ? Thefe, and every other bl ef- 
fing and grace, hath Chrift purchafed for me, and freely 

offers 



THE OMNISCIENCE OT GOD. 133 

o'fTers to me. My faith reaches out an empty hand to re- 
ceive of his fulnefs, and grace for grace. What can I 

want, who have Chrift in me, the hope of glory? In 

like manner, when I receive the wine, my heart applies 
that precious blood, which taketh away all fin, which hath 
a cleanfing virtue, and is the price of my redemption from 
the wrath to come. Hereby fhall I be fortified and 
ftrengthened for every combat with flefh and blood, with 
angels, principalities and powers. This precious blood 
was ihed for me. Bleffed Jefus, I build all my hopes of 
falvation on the merits of thy blood. Thou waft flain, 
and haft redeemed me to God by thy blood. Thou, who 
haft loved me, and wafhed me from my fins in thy blood, 
art worthy of my moft ardent love, and moft exalted praifes. 
To thee I humbly devote and confecrate myfelf, with 
all I am, and with all I have. To this fountain will I 
daily have recourfe by faith, fcr mercy to pardon, and for 
grace to help me in every time of need. 

— — ^0<-€> - 

THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD. 

Lord's day, June 1 7. 1 744, How amazing is the offl- 
rufcience of God! What is all our knowledge, what the 
knowledge of an archangel, if compared with his? Great 
omnifcient Majefty ! Thou kneweft, from all eternity, 
whatfoever hath been, is, or fhall be wrought in time. 
Thou knoweft and eareft for every kingdom, community, 
family, and perfon upon earth. From everlafting thou 
kneweft me, when I fhould be born, of what parents, ia 
what circumftances, how I fhould be educated, and what 
part I fhould act 0x1 this ftage of^Jay. Lord, thou knew- 
eft me, whilft I knew not myfeir. Thy all-comprehend- 
ing mind takes in, at one view, the feveral ranks and in- 
M numerable 



•134 THE OMNISCIENCE OF GOD. C J 74^* 

numerable families of creatures in their perpetual and end- 
lefs iucceflions. Not a reptile or infect, not a mite or ani- 
rnalculum, efcapes thy cognizance, much lefs an immortal 
foul. The whole fyftem of providence is before thee. 
Thou kneweft from everlafting, that I fiiould direct my 
thoughts to thee at this time, and whether I fiiould do it 
in fincerity or hypocrify. Thou knoweft how I mail em- 
ploy myfelf this day, and what I mall do the next. Thou 
knoweft how I have difpofed of one child in marriage, and 
whether I fhall dofo by the reft, and to whom,, and what 
joy or forrow I mail have in them. Thou knoweft what 
quantity of riches I have acquired by thy blefflng, 
what more fhall be added, and how I mall beftow it 
both in life and at death.' Thou knoweft what far- 
ther trials will be fet before me, by temptations to lux- 
ury, vanity, difhonefty, or an chattily ; and how I fhall 
acquit myfelf therein. Or, what trials of oppofition, 
contradiction, cenfure, reproach and contempt 1 fhall be 
farther called to conflict with, for the fake of Chrift 
and of a good confcience. Or, what trials of croffes 
and lofTes in trade, or by the perverfe temper and be- 
haviour of relations and friends, or by their afflictions and 
death, and how I fhall fuftain them. Or, what pains of 
body I muft farther endure, and what meafures of patience 
and refignation I fhall exercife under them. Thou know- 
eft the day of my death, the manner and circumftances of 
It, which are all hid from me, whether at home or abroad, 
whether by a fudden ftroke of thy hand, or by lingering 
illnefs, or gradual decays of nature; whether I fhall have 
bitter conflicts with the enemy of fouls, and the laft ene- 
my death, or whether I fhall have an eafy and complete 
victory over both; whether my fun fhall fet under a cloud, 
or whether I fhall have hope in death and an entrance mini- 
ftered unto me abundant^nto the everlafting kingdom of 

my 



SELF-EXAMINATION. 1J5 

my Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrifl. Thou knoweft what 
my paffage (hall be into the invifible world, which to me 
is covered with impenetrable darknefs, what (hall be my 
ftate and employment there; whether I (hall have my por- 
tion in the lake which burnetii with fire and brimftone, 
which is the fecond death, or in the regions of immortal 
light, life and love ; whether devils (hall triumph over me, 
infult me, jeer and feoff at me, and drag me, as the exe- 
cutioners of thy juftice, from one engine of mifery and tor- 
ment to another, or whether holy angels, thofe miniftering 
fpirits whom thou doit, fend forth to minifter for them who 
mall be heirs of falvation, fhall be my blefTed and joyful 
convoy, through the immenfe fields of ether, to the hea- 
venly Jerufalem, the paradife of God, and which of the 
blefled fpirits fhall be the firft to hail me welcome thl* 
ther. 

SELF-EXAMINATION. % 

Lord's day, Augufl 12. 1744. The Minifter hath been 
preaching, in a lively and pungent manner, from thofe 
words, Examine yourf elves, whether ye be in the faith, prove 
your own/elves, know ye not your own f elves, how thatjfefus 
Chrift is in you, except ye be reprobates? He clofed his dif- 
courfe with aprefling exhortation, to examine and prove our- 
felves, and to do it now. It is implied, he faid, that if 
Chriftians do examine themfelves, their rule of trial will be ? 
whether Jefus Chrift be in them. And be this my rule of 
trial at this time- Adored be his grace, who hath reveal- 
ed his Son in me. I am not afraid to be fearched, though 
I know it will be an awful teft. I mud ftand before the 
Lord of glory, whofe eyes are as a flame of fire, who 
fearcheth the reins and hearts, who hath faen all the fin- 
M 2 fulnefs 



Jj5 SELF-EXAMINATION. [ x 744* 

fulnefs of my heart, and hath been witnefs to all my open 
t ranfgreffions and fecret abominations. 1 tremble at the 
thought of (landing before his tribunal, and being fifted by 
him, who is privy to- all the intents of my heart. Yet, in 
the main, I fear not the trial, nor the important confequeis- 
ces of it. My heart (hall not be afraid, becaufe I know, 
and he knoweth, that Jefiis Chrift is in me. Chrift dwells 
in my heart by faith. I look to him, and truft in hrm, and 
in him alone, for f&lvation. Fain would I walk in all his 
ordinances and commandments blamelefs, not allowing my- 
felf in the wilful com million of any known fin, or omiflion 
of any known duty, or indeed in the carelefs and negligent 
performance of it. Yet am I not hereby juftified, nor do I 
feek, promife, or propofe to myfelf juftification hereby, 
knowing that by the deeds of the law, there fhali no flefh 
be juftrfied in his fight. My truft for acceptance with God 
is only in the merits of Chrift, his perfect obedience, his 
atoning facrifice, This is the white raiment he counfels 
me to buy of him, and bleffed be his name, it is a garment 
he hath long fince given me without money and without 
price. I have come to him weary and heavy laden, and 
he hath given me reft. O how fweet is that reft, that holy 
fecurity and peace, I have in believing ! And as Chrift 
dwells in my heart by faith, fo alfo by love. Though my 
love to him be too cool and remifs, and the exercife of it 
is too frequently and too long intermitted ; yet my Lord, 
who knoweth all things, does know, that there is no other 
object in the world, after which my love is at any time 
drawn out in fuch an intenfe degree as himfelf. Dear 
jefus, thou knoweft this, for thou didft kindle the firft 
facred flame, and thy Spirk fans the holy fire. Thou know- 
eft how dead and mortified my affections are to this world, 
and the world to me, for thy fake. A glimpfe of thy glory 
and thy beauty hath tarnifhed and eclipfed all mortal glories. 
A fcafte of thy Iove ; and of the joy that iprings from the 

• " lioUt 



HAPPY TEMPER AT THE LORD ? S TABLE.', I37 

light of thy countenance, fome cordial drops from that 
river, the dreams whereof make glad the city of our God, 
have rendered the fweeteft delights on earth tadelefs and 
infipid. Thou knowed, O bleffed Jefus, how dear to my 
foul the remembrance of thee is; and this, not only on fa- 
cramental occaiions, but in my daily meditations. Can I 
doubt then whether Jefus Chrift is in me, when, through 
adorable grace, I find his love to prevail and fwallow up 
all other love ? Never did I fo fully underdand, or fo fen- 
fibly fcdy till of late, what it is to have Chrift dwell in my 
heart by faith, and have my fellowihin with the Father and 
his Son Jefus Chriit. Yet I am fenfible, it is but little I 
know of thefe things, in companion with what may be 
known, and which indeed many others have experienced, 
and are experiencing at this time.- But thus much I know, 
that it is the happieft life in the world, to live a life of faithr 
on the Son of God, and to have Child in us the hope o 
glory. What do I owe to the riches of divine grace, which 
hath led me into this bleffed knowledge ! Blefs the Lord, 
Q my foul, and all that is within me, blefs his holy name ! 

<^o~© 

HAPPY TEMPER AT THE LORD'S TABLE. 

Lord 7 j day, Augujl 26. 1 744. The whole adminiftra- 
tion of the Lord's Supper to-day was, through adorable 
grace, a fweet opportunity, a mod delightful gofpel-fealh 
How did my heart burn within me 1 How tenderly did . 
it throb ! What dreams of tears, even tears of joy, joy un- 
speakable and full of glory, flowed from my gufhing eyes, 
while the minider was in his introductory difcourfe 1 From 
thefe words, As oft as ye eat this bread* and drink this cup, 
ye dojhew the Lord's death till he come, it was confidered, 
To whom we mould fhew the Lord's death: Even to 
God the Father ; who had fo- loved the world^as to give his 
M 3 only- 



%$% HAPPY TEMPER AT THE LORIES TAELE. [1744, 

only-begotten Son, that whofoever believeth in him fiiould 
not perifh, but have everlafting life : To Jefus Chrift, the 
Lord and Mafter of the feaft, who was prefent with his 
guefts, ready to bid us welcome, and to fpread over us the 
banner of his love: To the Holy Spirit, who had formed 
our hearts anew, and would, by his quickening, comforting 
influences, feal us to the day of redemption : To the holy 
angels, who were prefent, rejoicing in the grace vouchfafed 
to us, and in our flncere and affectionate devotions: To 
devils, who would envy, rage and pine at our glorious pri- 
vileges, while we, in the ftrength of the Lord of hofts, the 
Captain of our falvation, might bid defiance to all the 
powers of darknefs : To our fellow-men, both faints and 
iinners; to animate the former, to ftrengthen and confirm 
their hands ; to teftify to the latter, where our hopes are 
founded for redemption and everlafting life, and mark out 
to them the way to bleffednefs. Laftly, to ourfelves; for 
invigorating our graces, flrengthening our refolutions to be 
the Lord's, a.nd that we may receive of his fulnefs all need- 
ful fupplies. With what humble boldnefs did I appeal to 
the omnifcient God, to the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
Spirit, that each of the Divine Perfons knew the fincerity 
and integrity of my heart, amidft all the imperfections and 
frailties with which I am encompafTedt With what holy 
freedom and confidence could I defire of God to fearch 
and try me, my own heart not condemning me? How did 
my heart glow with thankfulnefs and admiration, at the 
amazing condefceafion and love of God in Chrifl Jefus to 
a creature fo mean, fo vile and finful! Had the tide of 
facred joy fwelled a few degrees higher, I could hardly 
have retrained myfelf from crying out in the congregation, 
he is come! he is come! Such a facramental feafon, I am 
Aire, I never was favoured with before. Not unto me, 
O Lord, not unto me, but to thy name be all the praife. 
O may I now more than ever adorn the deftriae of God 

my 



PRAYER OX THE CHOICE OF A MINISTER. 139 

my Saviour! May I maintain high reverential thoughts of 
God, and more lowly thoughts of myfelf! May I cherifh 
a thankful frame, walk humbly and clofely with my God 
£iid Saviour in all things! Amen. Hallelujah! 

PRAYER RELATING TO THE CHOICE OF A MINISTER. 

Saturday, March 9. 1745. ^ ur g rac ^ ous God hath 
wonderfully appeared for us, I humbly truft, in anfwer to 
our earned prayers. Our late worthy minifter, the Rev. 
Mr Bradlhaw, died November 10. 1742. Soon after his 
death, a few pious friends agreed with me to unite our 
prayers twice a-week, that God would provide for us a paf- 
tor after his own heart. This we did by ourfelves in a 
private room, over and above the many public meetings for 
prayer on the fame account. Ever fince we begun this 
courfe in private, the fenfible experience of the divine pre- 
fence we have had with us, hath kept up our hope, that 
the great Shepherd and Bifhop of fouls would interpofe 
in our favour, and bring our religious contentions to a hap- 
py iflue, and our deliverance hath been brought about by a 
remarkable train of providences. Never did I hear fuch 
pleadings, appeals, expostulations. Never did I feel fuch 
inward wreftlings. Tears I found in abundance. I hope 
we could all in lb me degree fay, The zeal of thy houfe hath 
eaten me up. Surely that God, who poured out upon us 
fuch a fpirit of grace and fupplication, hath heard in heaven 
his dwelling-place, and granted us the defire of cur fouls. 
Well faid holy Afaph, and no doubt from fenfible experi- 
ence, // is good for me to draw nigh to God, A mighty 
conflict he had with himfelf, in which he had been forely 
tempted to envy the irreligious, and to entertain hard 
thoughts of a good God ? and of his difpeufations. But by 

conycrfing 



I4O PRAYER ON THE CHOICE OF A MINISTER, [l74£. 

converfing with God in exercifes of devotion, he was ena* 
bled to overcome the temptation, and was confirmed in his 
choice of God as his portion, and of religion as his way and 
walk. God had given him a clearer difcerning than he 
bad before, of the fearful end of a vain, wicked life, how- 
ever attended with eafe and wealth, profperity and pleafare, 
and howfoever it might he clofed with an entire freedom 
from thofe anxieties about a future (late, which fully and be- 
cloud the period of many a life devoted to God and reli- 
gion. And how good hath it been for me to draw nigh 
God ! O how fweet, how refrefhing, how comforting and 
confirming, have thefe feafons been, ever fince we began 
our private meetings for focial prayer! We firft engaged 
therein, not without great fear and trembling for the ark of 
God. But fuch rich experiences, fuch fenfible tokens of 
the prefence of God with us, were we favoured with, both 
then and ever fince, as marvelloufiy animated our faith in 
God, caufed light to arife out of darknefs, even when the 
clouds gathered the thickeft blacknefs, and frill in hope to 
believe againfl: hope. How remarkably, how feafonably 
did God appear for us! He hath far outdone our warmeft 
hopes, our fondeft expectations. It plainly appears, that 
thofe circumftances, of which we were ready to fay, as good 
old Jacob did, All thefe things are againfl me, have events- 
ally contributed much towards bringing about the defired 
end. 

Lord T s day, March 1 7. 1 745. The miniiter of our un- 
animous choice declared his cordial acceptance of our in- 
vitation from the pulpit, to a crowded audience to-day, and 
at the clofe of the public worfhip, our congregation fung 
the following hymn : 

To thy great name, O Prince of Peace ! 

Our grateful fong we raife ; 
Accept, thou Sun of Righteoufnefs ? 

The, tribute of our praife. 

la 



CHRIST DELIVERED FOR OUR OFFEKCES. I4! 

In widow'd ftate, thefe walls no more 
Their mourning weeds fhall wear ; 

Thy meffenger mail peace reitore, 
And ev'ry breach repair. 

Thy providence our fouls admire, 

With joy its windings trace, 
And mout, in one united choir, 

The triumphs of thy grace 1 

Our happy union, Lord, maintain, 

Here let thy prefence dwell; 
And thoufands, loos'd fron^ Satan's chain? 

Raife from the brink of hell. 

Diftreffed churches pity, Lord, 

Their difmat breaches ciofe, 
Their fons unite in fweet accord, 

And troubled minds compofe. 

In all be purity maintain'd 

Peace like a river flow, 
And pious zeal, and love unfeign'd* 

In ev'ry bofom glow. 

CHRIST DELIVERED FOR OUR OFFENCES. 

Lord's day; November 3. 1 745. The minifter hath 
been difcourfing on thefe words of the apoftle, Who was 
delivered for our offences. Strange docVme ! Should I not 
think it fo, had I not been bleffed with the revelation of 
the gofpel ? That glorious my fiery, which was hid from 
ages, and is dill hid from mod of the nations, is revealed 
unto me, and bleffed be God, not only in the letter, but in 
the fpirit of it. Bleffed be God, who hath given me an 
appropriating faith to fay, Jefus was delivered to death for 

my 



\\1 COMFORT LAID UP FOR FUTURE TRIALS. [1746. 

my offences. He died as my furety, as a criminal, as a 
finner in the eye of the law, though not before God, and 
though he knew no fin, that I might be made the righte- 
oufnefs of God in him, agreeable to the tenor of the new, 
the everlafting covenant, in which he is become the Lord 
my righteoufnefs ; at the fame time that I am a (inner in 
the fight of God, and the chief, or among the chief, in my 
own account. la the difcourfe, how did my heart throb! 
How did every bowel within me roll ! How did I lor.g 
after the converfion of finners, that thofc who are yet aliens 
and flxangers, might be made fellow-citizens with the faints, 
and of the houfehold of God, and particularly for thofe of 
my own fioufehoidi Sorry I was, at tke clofe of the duty* 
to fee fo many dry eyes, when my own had been fo drench- 
ed, and (j many faces wearing an air of unconcern, while 
my heart burned within me. And how fweet was my 
commemoration of the death and fufferings of Chriit at his . 
table! How containing was the power of his love ! I fat 
under his fhadow with great delight, and his fruit was fweet 
to my tafte. He brought me to the banqueting houfe, and 
his banner over me was love. Certainly fuch a facramen- 
tal feafon I have not been favoured with fince the memo- 
rable Auguft 26. 1744. Certainly it was good for me to 
be there. My foul was borne as on eagle's wings. Blefs 
the Lord, O my foul, and let all that is within rae bUfs his 
holy name. 

COMFORT LAID UP FOR FUTURE TRIALS. 

[To a married daughter^ Mr Williams, on a journey, 

wrote the following letter.] 

Mr dear Child, February 17. 1 746. 

It hath long been matter of my warmed: defire and molt 
earned prayer, that all mine may be the Lord's, And 

BOW 



COMFORT LAID UP FOR FUTURE TRIALS. 1^3 

now, I have no greater joy, than to fee my children walk- 
ing in the truth. I have long entertained hopes of you and 
your lifters, that I have not in vain prayed and laboured, 
and, as it were, travailed in birth again, until Chrift be 
formed in you. O that parents and children may be 
all ripening apace jor God and glory! — As for you, my 
dear^ who are in a married ftate, let me remind you to be 
expecting trouble in the flefh. The more you expecl it, 
the better ycu will be prepared for it, and the more eafily 
will it be fcorne, and prove the more advantageous to your 
belt interefts. You have been made to bear the yoke in 
your youth, by afrliclions in your own perfon, which for 
the prefent were not joyous, but grievous. Expecl a re- 
turn of thefe. They will net come the fooner. Your 
children have been chaftened fore, though not given over 
unto death. Expecl: to fee them taken away with a ftroke. 
Realize to yourfelf fuch a trial. Your hufband, to whom 
God hath given found health, may leave you a widow, and 
your children fatherlefs. [Her hufband died feven years 
after,] Father and mother may be gone too, or may be 
utterly incapable of comforting you. I fugged not thefe 
things to diftrefs you, or to abate your prefent comforts. 
No, my defire and aim is, that you may have growing com- 
fort, and that in every flage and ftate of life. Therefore 
take up your portion in God. Fetch all your joys from your 
covenant-relation to God through Jefus Chrift. God is a 
fountain that never fails, even when creature-cifterns are 
dried up. Look upon your children as lent, rather than 
given. Confider who is the proprietor. And may He not 
do what he will with his own ? Be willing then, fince his 
glory is concerned in it, that he fhall do with you, with 
your hufband, with your children, whatfeemeth him good. 
The more you depend on him for comfort, and draw your 
comforts from him, the more you will find, that outward 
changes cannot deprive you of your joy. David could 

fetch 



144 COMFORT LAID UP FOR FUTURE TRIALS. [1746. 

fetch comfort from the covenant, when one of his fons had 
been guilty of inceft, another of murder and rebellion, and 
a third of treafon. Habakkuk could rejoice in the Lord, 
and joy in the God of his falvation, when creature-com- 
forts were entirely cut off. m God is the fame now as then. 
The Creator of the ends of the earth fainteth not, neither 
is weary. We are never duly prepared for trials, till we 
are willing to let go thofe enjoyments which God may call 
for, whether health, fubitance, children, hufban*!, &c. Nor 
can we willingly quit this mortal life, till we are affured of 
immortality ; nor part with prefent enjoyments > till we are 
affured of better in reverfion. There is enough in a co- 
venant God, enough in the love of Chri(t, to raife us fupe- 
rior to every changing fcene of life, to keep us humble and 
heavenly-minded in profperity, and to make us patient and 
cheerful in adverfity. Jefus is a precious name. To be 
able to call him, my Jefus, my Lord and my God, my all 
In all, is more than to ha*e all the treafures of the Indies. 
It is more than to have an army for our guard, or a legion 
of angels for our convoy. It is more than to have all the 
birds of mufic ferenade us at our window every morning, 
and a band of muficians, in rnoft enchanting concert, to at- 
tend us all the day. Why may not all this treafure, 
ftrength, honour, pleafure, be your's? Jefus is a fea of 
love. As the fea fpreads its arms, to receive all, that from 
every coafl fhall venture to launch forth, and finds room 
enough, and to fpare, for every one; fo does the bleffed 
Jefus, with open arms, receive and embrace every foul, that 
with humble confidence refts upon his promife and all-fuf- 
ficiency. To his bleffing I commend you and all your's. 
May the grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift be with your fpi- 
rit. May the good-will of him that dwelt in the bum, and 
the love f him that hung on the crofs, be ever towards you. 
So prays your truly affectionate parent, J. W. 

PROMOTING 



PROMOTING PIETY IN A SON'-IX-LAW. I45 



PROMOTING PIETY IN A SON-IN-LAW. 

Dear , February 17. 1746. 

As you ftand in the relation of a for, and are become 
bone of her bone, and flefh of her flefh, v/ho i* bone of my 
bone, and flem of my flefh, I find and feel my heart and 
affection drawn out towards you, and tenderly concerned 
for your interefts, efpecially for your (piritual profperity, 
For this my foul hath been poured out in earned inter- 
cefRons many a time, more particularly of late, both before 
I begun this journey and fioce. I have feen reafon to 
hope, that you attend with ferioufhefs to the mod impor- 
tant truths; and would hope, that you have experienced 
what it is to be a new creature, to be bom again, to have 
old things palled away, and all things become new. Ne- 
verthelefs, as this is a molt important point, the very hinge 
on which year falvation turns, Ghee without it a man can- 
not fee the kingdom of God, allow me to afk, what evi- 
dences you have that this change- hath indeed paffed upon 
you? As there are but two flates which divide the world 
of mankind in eternity, reafon tells us that there mud be a 
wide difference in the characters of one and the other here 
in time. Thofe who are made meet for the inheritance of 
the faints in light, will never be thru ft out of it; as, on the 
other hand, the unmeet for heavenly fociety and employ- 
ment will never be admitted. The chief meetnefs for hea* 
ven is love to God and Chrift. We do not love God at 
all, if we love him not more than all. If any man, fays 
Chrift, cometh to me, and hateth not father, mother, wife, 
children, houfe, lands, yea and his own life alfo, he cannot 
be my difciple. The meaning is, that we prize an intereft 
in Chrift above all the world, and are willing to let all go, 
rather than by fin lofe the Saviour. It is a great thing to 
leve God and Chrift in this high degree. The ways of 
# N holinefs 



I46 PROMOTING PIETY IN A SOK-IN-LAV/. [1746. 

holinefs are irkfome and tedious to corrupt nature; and 
though the unconverted may fliew fome regard to God 
and his ways, yet this is the langnage of their hearts, Be- 
hold) what a wearinefs is it! — It may be difficult to deter- 
mine, whether you love God and Chrift above all, which 
was my own cafe for many years; yet you may certainly 
know, whether any remarkable change hath ever paffed on 
your temper of mind; whether at fome particular feafons 
you have been filled with concern for your foul, and-dif- 
treffing fears left you mould perifn for ever; whether you 
have fometimes had fuch a fight of the emptinefs of all 
creature-enjoyments, that you would have given all the 
world to obtain the favour of God and an intereft in Chrift; 
and whether you have been made to prize the gofpel, as 
the means for fecuring your eternal falvation. You may 
know, whether you have been convinced of the finfu'nefs 
of your heart and life, fo as to abhor yourfelf, and repent 
In duft and afhes ; whether you have alfo feen your abfo- 
"lute need of a Saviour, the all-fufficiency of Chrift, the free- 
nefs of his love and grace, and his readinefs to receive 
and embrace every returning (inner; and whether, as a fin- 
ner, you have been enabled to truft the promifes of the 
gofpel. You may know, whether you have been grieved 
for your former, as well as latter fins, and particularly for 
your ingratitude to Chrift, and have been determined for 
new and better obedience. — I am not ignorant of the mo- 
defty of your temper. If you cannot talk with me, you 
may write to me. Be not difcouraged. Is there no balm 
in Gilead? Is there no phyfician there? — Believe this free- 
dom to proceed from the abundant love and tender concern 
for your everlafting happinefs, of your affectionate father, 

J. W. 



THE 



THE DOUBTING CHRISTIAN COMFORTED 1-4-7 



THE DOUBTING CHRISTIAN COMFORTED. 

[To a young gentleman, who was under ferious concern 
about his eternal (late, Mr Williams, on a journey, wrote 
the following letter.} 

Dear , April 15. 1745. 

I thank you for your freedom in laying before me the 
thoughts of your heart. Certainly I mould rejoice to hear 
that the Lord had fpoken peace to your foul, and allured 
you of your intereft in his everlafting love. Yet I mull tell 
you, L am not forry, nay I rejoice, to hear you are lament- 
ing after him. No doubt you want to be an eftablimed- 
Chriftian at once, and to walk in the light of God's coun- 
tenance. It is a laudable ambition. But perhaps infinite 
Wifdom fees you are not yet fit for (uch a (late. So the 
apoitle Paul would fain have been rid of his thorn in the 
flefh; but then, probably, he would not have been fo hum- 
ble, nor have prayed fo much, or fo earnefUy. Therefore 
the Lord faid to him, My grace Is fujjicienf fir thee ; that 
is, thou (halt not be overcome by the temptation, but it is 
good for thee to be farther exercifed therewith. So in 
your cafe, the power and grace of Chrifl, it is plain, is not 
withheld from you. Eife, why thefe lamentations after the 
Lord? It is an evidence you thirft for grace. Why do you 
mourn over the hardnefs of your heart ? Surely there is fome 
degree of tendernefs. Do not think your prayers denied* 
only for want of peace and joy in believing, or that you 
cannot rejoice in hope of the glory of God. The apoftle 
did not think his prayers denied, while fufficient grace was 
afforded. Let the Lord work his own work in his own 
way. Rejoice that he hath not taken his Holy Spirit from 
you. The longer you are held in this foul humbling (late, 
the ftronger may your comforts be in due time> the clearer 
N 2- your 



34S SELF-EXAMINATION BEFORE E 1 ?^ 

your evidences, and your thankfulnefs raifed to a higher 

pitch. 

Thefe threatening trials, fears, and dangers part, 
Your foul, with full falvation crown'd at Lift, 
More clearly may its countlefs value know, 
And to the Saviour endiefs praifes owe. 

Go on afking, feeking, knocking, and depend upon it, for 
they are Chrift's own words, Every one thai aJleJj, receiv- 
eih ; and he that feehth r Jindeih ; and to him that hn<icketh % 
itjhall be opned. You may affure yourfelf of an interefl in 
'the daily prayers of, dear — , your, 6c c. J. W. 



Friday night, September 5. 1746. The minifter hath 
given us a preparation fermon on thofe words, Lord, is it 
IP May I learn, from the example of the difciples of my 
Lord, to be cautions and fearful of judging others, to be 
jealous over myfelf, and in all my felf-judging to appeal to 
Chrift, as the difcerner of my heart, and the judge of my 
integrity. O my foul, how fad will my ft ate be hereafter, 
how (hocking and dreadful my difappointment, after all the 
profeilion I have made, and the glorious hopes I have en- 
tertained, fhould I at J aft be found an hypocrite ? I doubt 
not* I am efteemed a fincere convert, a true believer, by 
numbers of my fellow Christians. I am fenfihle my wife, 
my children, my mod intimate friends, efteem me fuch. 
So probably did his fellow-difciples efteem Judas. It fhould 
feem that every one of the eleven was more ready to fufpect 
himfelf than the real traitor. They did not auk, Lord, is 
it this man? but on the contrary, Lord, is it I? It was 
Chrift alone, the difcerner of the thoughts and intents of 
the heart, who could difcern the hypocrite. What will 

the 



THE LORD'S SUPFEIU I49 

the good opinion of fellow-Chriftians avail me, in the great 
decifive da}-, if Chrift, the fovereign Judge, mould condemn 
me? What confufion mud cover me in that awful hour, if 
he, who is the faithful and true witnefs, does not teftify 
for me? If I only wear religion as a mafic, to cover carnal 
views and fin liter ends, the time is certainly coming, when 
the mafic will fall off, and then, what is my hope? Shall 
not my hope be cut off, and my truft be a fpider's web? 
How terrible would it be, after I have eaten and drank in 
his prefence fo often, to hear him profefs, he never knew 

me? How could I bear to hear htm fay, depart? But. 

for ever bleffed be the God and Father of my Lord Jefus f 
who hath begotten me again, and through his adorable grace 
I am born again, through fanctification of the Spirit unto 
obedience, and fprinkiing of the blood of Jems Chrift, and 
raifed unto a lively hope by the refiirreclion of Jefus Chrift 
from the dead. O the glorious hope, to which my God 
and Father hath begotten me again! This is the life of my 
life, the health of my health, the riches of my riches. 
What would all this world, my near and dear relations, 
health and profperity, be to me without this? They are all 
lofeable, periming things* and I muft die and leave them" 
all behind me; but this I fhall never lofe. Or fhould my 
hope, as to the lively exercife of it; be clouded and inter- 
mitted for a feafon, yet the thing hoped for fhall never be 
loft. It is an inheritance, to which- the heirs of God, and 
joint heirs with Chrift, have a jufl: right and claim* It is 
incorruptible, and undented, and that fadeth not away. It 
is referved in heaven for me, and I am kept by the power 
of God through faith unto that falvation. Of this I have 
fatisfying evidences, not fo much taken from what I have 
done for God, as what God hath done for me. He hath 
given unto me, to hate fin, to \ovq holinefs, and to love 
God above alL He hath given me repentance for all and: 
every fin.. He hath given me to fee myfelf poor and blind ? L 
J* 3 E uilt 7 



l^O OBJECTIONS TO R.ECEITIKG [ I "_•.;, 

guilty aUd ivioor, :: 

able and gat, and humble faith in him as my right- 

eoafneis, ever: Jefus as ray all. K-: ] fee 

rayfelf complete is Chfift, worthy throng 

his rig'rt . - 
power of his might. .- -.din- 

ing grace. Hallelt 

®>Q<Q 

OBJECTIONS TO RECEIVING THE LORD*5 -V??LR< 

[To the fame perfon, as April 15. 1746, and v 
now in the prolpecf of marriage, and mack :. 
; ection to bis coming to the Loi :. Mr Wil 

wrote the following letter. J 

Dluat , January 21. 1 747. 

Your ob^ectiens againfl year coming to the Lord's 
table are. me general vanity :f yeui mind, c: :■ all 

your defiles and refokitions, aaa the mare parti: 
tracring Gtuation yen are now in. But if you moil not 
partake of the Lord's (upper, till you can do it without di- 
ftracnon, is 1::: this an offending ^ 11 cf 

God's children 3 According to this, I have been an un- 
worthy communicant thirty-fix years. Bcfides, is not 
God as really dilpleafed with cur iyer, 

as at the Lord's table : Would it not hg- a h. an: to 

King George, if, while you were petitioning him for 
life, or any great favour, you mould hep every now and 
haen. and tarn away from him a :: liftea t: the buzzing of 
a fly, or to (tare at the company? A 

to the Majefty of heaven, foil to be fokmnlj invocated to 
bow the heavens ana come down, to inters to ; 
cry; and prefently lee yea turn yea: and' 

;:;^k off the thread of your addrefs *o him, aud attend 

every 



THE LORD'S SUPPER. I3I 

every trifle that conies into your mind ? But will yom 
therefore leave off prayer? I know you abhor the thought. 
No, you are forry that it is fo ; you are grieved that you 
cannot attend upon the Lord without diftraction ; and you 
gladly fly to the blood of atonement for mercy to pardon 
your unallowed infirmities. Yet, let me tell you, you 
may as juftly reftrain prayer before God, as neglect to com- 
memorate the dying love of a dear Redeemer, becaufe you 

cannot do it clear of diffractions. You feem indeed 

aware of fuch a confequence, and in order to obviate it, 
you intimate, that you never expect to be in fuch a fitua- 
tion as to be free from wandering thoughts. But you alfo 
feem to intimate, that there is fomething in the wandering 
thoughts occafioned by a love-affair more peculiarly disfit- 
ting for the Lord's fupper, than in thofe which fpringfrom 
other fources. But I can aiTure you, from my own expe- 
rience, that it is no fuch thing. Were your*s a criminal 
amour, had you any difhonourable intention in profecuting 
it, your reafoning on that head would hold. But as the 
confummation of it, which you are feeking and longing after, 
is an ordinance of God, and instituted in paradife, and as 
the object of your willies appears every way worthy of 
them, there is no more reafon for your being afhamed of 
it, or confcious of any guilt on that fcore, than for your 
being afhamed of any other lawful bufinefs. Yet moll 
young people, I believe, are haunted with a kind of con- 
fcious irtanie in fuch profecutions, and it feems to be wrought 
into our very nature. Milton reprefents Eve, in her irate 
of innocence, as not entirely free from it. 

" She heard me thus, and, though divinely brought, 
Ci Her innocence, a»d virgin mcdefty, 
" Her virtue, and the confcience of her worth, 
<{ Which would be woo'd, and not unfouglit be won.. — * 
1( Not obvious, nor obtru five, but retired; 
f* The mere defuabk. Qr, to fay all,,- - ■■• 

." Nature 



1)2 CHRIST WITH THEM THAT C ] 747' 

u Nature itfelf, though pure of finful thought, 
" Wrought in her {o y that feeing me (he turn'd," 

Now lay all thefe things together, and then tell me, why 
an honourable love-affair mould any more, or any more 
pernicioufly, diffract the mind, and disfit it for the nearefi 
approaches to God, than our fix days work. Nay, I can 
allure you, from my own experience, that worldly cares, 
the cares of a family, which are common to all men, have 
fometimes been more diftracltng to my mind in converfe 
with God, than courtmip, though mine was attended with 

much greater difficulty than your's. 1 rejoice, that you 

can fay, you can appeal to him who knows all things, that 
you ardently defire to love him, and can look back on the 
time, when all fin became odious to you, even your great- 
eft burden. What though you have not that full affurance 
of your intereft in Chrift, which you defire? No more had 
I, till fourteen years after I was a communicant. The 
means of attaining it, is to wait on the Lord in his own 
way, and expect it in his time. The more you feel the 
love of Chrift, the lefs you will doubt your love to him. 
The way to feel more of his love, is to wait on him there*, 
where his love is moft fenfibly difplayed, where by fenfible 
fighs he is freely offered, nay given to you, even Chrift with 
all his benefits. Fix your refolution now, never to be al- 
tered, that you will take the fir ft opportunity of publicly 
giving your felf to the Lord, and unto his people by the 
will of God. Your profperity for both worlds will much 
augment the joy of your affured. friend and fervant for 
Jems' fake, J. W.. 

<&>o*@ 

CHRIST WITH THEM THAT MEET IN HIS NAME. 

Saturday night, February 28. 1 747. Our J^rd fays. 
Inkers tzvo or three are gathered together in my name, there 

am 



MEET IN HSS NAME. I53 

am I in the mJJl of them. Surely there is more implied 
in fchefe words, in my name, than I have hitherto conceived. 
Many will meet to-morrow in places of worfhip, but will 
they all meet in the name of Chrijl P Will they all enjoy 
his prefence? — Scripture is its own beft expofitor. Jeru- 
faiem is called the city which the Lord did choofe, to 
put his name there ; that is, where he would be worfhip- 
ped. Elijah faid to Baal's prophets, Call ye on the name 
of your gods, and I will cad on the name of the Lord* The 
Pfalmift fay^, The name of the God of Jacob defend thee. 
He alfo fays, In the name of cur God <we will fet up Gur 
tanners. The prophet Micah obferves, All people will 
walk every one in the name of his God; and concludes, JVe 
mill wa J k in the name of the Lord our God for ever and 
ever. Here are implied, worfhip, obedience, and truft. 
So, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghoft. When our Lord fays, / am 
come in my Father's name — The works that I do in my Fa~ 
ther's name: When Peter faid, In the name of jfefus Chrijl 
rife up ana walk — There is none other name under heaven 
given among men whereby we muft befaved — Signs and won* 
ders done in the name of Jefus — Paul fpahe boldly in the 
name of the Lord J ef us : Such paflages muft imply, that 
they who are gathered together in the name of Chrijl believe 
that Chrift regards their worfhip. They believe that Chrift. 
is able to give the mercies they pray for. They not only 
believe him able, but willing alfo, to grant their requefts. 
For all the promifes of God in Chrift are yea, and in him 
amen. It implies, that they are gathered together in the 
love of Chrift. They cultivate, cherifh, and exercife love 
to him, and defire to be like him in every attainable de- 
gree. It alfo implies that they put on Chrift. The A- 
poftle fays, As many of you as have been baptised into 
Chrijl, have put en Chrifl. And he exhorts, Put ye on the 
Lord Jefus Chrijl. If we put on Chrift, we do by faith 

apply 



154 CONFIRMING PIETY IN A DAUGHTER. [1747. 

apply him to our fouls with all his merits. It implies, not 
only that we have done fo in fome former infiances, but 
that we do it in the prefect act of worfliip. If a (errant 
is fent to alk or buy fomething in his matter's name, the 
pcrfon he treats with, does not fo much confider the cha- 
racter of the (errant, as that of his mailer, and being fatis* 
fied he is fuch an one's fervant, gives or fells according to 
the regard he hath for the matter ; for he confiders the 
fervsnt as vetted with the matter's character. So here, i£ 
I afk in Chritt's name, I mutt put on Ckritt. I mutt be- 
lieve his rightecufnefs mine, his obedience mine, and the 
virtue of his fufterings and atoning facrifice to be mine. 
For me he \v:\s born, was circumcifed, fulfilled all right©* 
cufnefs, was made fin ; that is, he flood in the place of 
me a finner, for me he fufTered and died, for me he bore 
the wrath of God, and made full fatisfaction to the juftice 
of God. It does not hence follow, that I am Chritt, or 
that I in Chritt did and fuffcred thefe things. But it will 
follow, that I (hare in the atonement he made for fin by 
his meritorious futterings and facrifice, and am interefted in 
all the blefiings of his pur chafe. 

<2v:-€ 

CONFIRMING PIETY IN A DAUGHTER. 

[The following letter was written, while Mr Williams 
was on a journey.] 

Mr dear Child , May z, 1747. 

I have no greater joy, except rejoicing in Chritt Jefus, 
than to fee my children walking in the truth. I hope. you 
have all chofen that good part which (hall not be taken 
away from you, and I fenfibly find fuch a glorious hope 
hath contributed not a little, for many months, towards 
keeping me in high fpirits. To fee the partner of all my 

Joys 



CONFIRMING PIZTY IN A DAUGHTER. I55 

joys and cares, and all my children, travelling with me 
Sion-wards, and to look forward to the da}', when we 
fiiall all fit down with Abraham, and Ifaac, and Jacob, in 
the kingdom of our Father : O it is the life of my life ! 
It puts life into my prayers. It fills me with gratitude, 
when approaching the divine footitool. It is abundant by 
many thankfgivings unto God. It cheers many of my 
lonefome hours. It allures me, that you will never want 
fuch a meafare of earthly good, as is bed and moll con- 
ducive to your immortal intereft, for all other things fhall 
be added unto you. And it tends perfectly to obliterate 
envy from my bread, for I think no man upon earth hap- 
pier than myfelf. — My dear Child, it is indeed defirable 
to find our fouls always upon the wing God- ward and 
heaven-ward, ready to every good work, our faith always 
lively and ftxong, taking heaven by force, and in our 
wreftlings with God faying, / -zvill not ht thee go, except 
thou blefs me. It is highly defirable to have Jove to a dear 
Redeemer always flaming, and our affections to all created 
comforts duly regulated, fo as to love him better, love 
opportunities of converging with him, and prize his pre- 
fence, and the tokens of his love, even above our necelTary 
food. It is very defirable to find, that indwelling fin, 
the corruption of our nature, the workings of unbelief, 
our deadnefs in duty and backwardnefs to it, are our daily 
burden, under which we groan, being burdened. It is 
good to renew daily and deeply our repentings for actual 
fin, and find a growing hatred to it, and watchfulnefs 
againft it, and a holy jealoufy over ourfelves following us 
into all places, companies, and employments. As a con- 
ference of thefe things, it is defirable to have a joyful 
hope, that we are indeed palled from death unto life; that 
God is our God for ever and ever, and will never leave 
us, nor forfake us ; that the Spirit of God witneffeth with 
our fpirit to our being the children of God ; that we find 

heaven 



I56 CONFIRMING PIETY IN A DAUGHTER. f 1 747» 

heaven already begun in our fouls, even the dawnings of 
an eternal day; and that the love of God is (lied abroad 
in our hearts, and the Sun of righteoufnefs arifen there 
with healing in his wings. Thefe are true riches, folid 
pleafures, and fubftantial honours. In ourfelves we are 
nothing, and of ourfelves can do nothing. Chrift is the 
fountain of life and grace, and. the more we go to him, 
and to God in his name, the more abundantly mall we re- 
ceive. Chrift ftands with bleflmgs in his hands ready to 
beftow upon all that come ; and the more and the oftener 
we come to him, the more mall we have ; for he giv- 
eth liberally, and upbraideth not. He does not tell us, 
as v/e are too apt to tell our fellow-mortals, u Ycu was at 
" my door yeflerday, or very lately, and I relieved you; 
<{ how can you have the face to come again fo foon?" 
No, his ways are not our ways. He bids us pray without 
ceafing. And if we prayed without ceafing, we mould 
receive without ceafing. Why are the King's children fo 
lean from day to day? Is it not becaufe they have too 
little, and too feldom recourfe to the fountain ? They 
who frequent the court, learn a genteel and courtly beha- 
viour. Have not. we a heavenly temper? If not, it is 
becaufe our converfation is not in heaven. We never mail 
be lively Chriftians, till we live much with Chrift. Nehe- 
miah could pray to the God of heaven, while he was 
waiting on an earthly prince. And could not we pray 
more than we do, while walking, fitting, working, nurfmg, 
or converfing with fellow- mortals ? Mr Herbert, fpeaking 
ef fach ejaculations, tells the Lord, 

" Thou canft no more not hear, 
« Than thou canft die." 

He alfo reprefents the Saviour as faying, 
" Sighs will convey any thing to me." 

—Were 



COUNSEL AND COMFORT TO THE AFFLICTED. I57 

— Were it not for our corruptions, our pride, our felfifh* 
nefs, it would be thought no great matter to believe the 
word, the promife of God that cannot lie. It would be 
as eafy to believe God's word, as to credit the word of 
the beft man upon earth. Do you ftart at that ? I fpeak 
it to the fhame of my own unbelief. Do you indeed as 
readily, as ftrongly, and without a doubt, believe the pro- 
rnifes of your heavenly Father, as you would a promife 
made by your earthly parent ? And yet do«s not your 
judgment readily confent, that there is an infinitely firmer 
foundation for believing the former than the latter. Why 
are we then fo faithlefs i Go to Chriit with this very com- 
plaint. They that wait upon the Lord, fhall renew their 
ftrength. Chrift faves his people from their (ins, as well 
as from the wages of fin. Bear me much upon your 
heart, and ^believe me to be your tenderly affectionate 
father, J. W. 

COUNSEL AND COMFORT TO THE AFFLICTED. 

£In a letter to an eminently pious fi/ter-in-law, whofe 
younger daughter was in a very afflicted (late, Mr Wil- 
liams fuggefted the following advices and confolations.] 

My dear Sister, May 4. 1747. 

I can tenderly fympathize with you. I have known 
what it is to part with deiirable children. May you never 
know iuch piercing grief, if it be the will of our heavenly 
Father. I am glad to find you can refign your deareft 
comforts, your Ifaacs, to the Lord. The apoftle John 
fays very truly, This is the viBory that overcometh tht 
world, even our faith. Indeed this is that which over* 
cometh worldly love, and worldly fear. What are worldly 
loflbj or worldly gains, to him whofe treafure is in hea- 
? ' O yen? 



I58 COUNSEL AND COMFORT, &C. [*747» 

ven ? Or what is the lofs of the deareft earthly relative to 
him who can fay, My beloved Saviour is mine, and I am 
htsP Pain indeed will be felt; and though the fpirit of a 
man may fuftain many infirmities, yet fharp pains, and of 
long duration, will fabdue the flouted fpirit and the 
firongeft conftitution ; but it is a noble fupport, even in 
that eafe, to know, that if our earthly houfe of this taber- 
nacle were dirTolved, we have a building of God, an 
houfe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.— 
Dear Sifter, fly to the Lord in all your fears and griefs. 
For my part, 1 knew little of him, little of his all-furli- 
ciency, little of the open accefs, through Jefus, which we 
have to him, little of his readinefs to fly to our relief, till 
fome years ago. He then gracioufly condefcended to 
make fuch a difcovery of himfelf, of my relation to him, 
and intereft in him, as I had never known before* And 
never did I fee myfelf to be fuch a polluted worm as then, 
I have ftill- great need to defire, that I may know Chrift, 
with one apoftle, and as another exhorts, that I may grow 
in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour 
jefus Chrift. I am fure the love of Chrift pafTeth know- 
ledge. However, blefTed be God, I have now for years 
known no anxiety. Whatfoever I. want, I fly to the 
throne of grace for. I pour before him my words, 
I plead his promifes, his all-fufficiency ; I tell him, Lord, 
thou canft, thou wilt provide for me ; and he hath never 
put my hope to fhame. O that I could prevail on you to 
truft Divine all-fufficiency, and believe, that God is able, 
£nd as willing as able, to do for you exceeding abun- 
dantly above all that we aik or think* It is not aiking in 
faith, it is not trufting, but doubting, unlefs we believe he 
will, as well as can, fulfil all his promifes. May you have 
a more abundant fupply of the Spirit of Jefus Chrift, and 
then we know that all things work together for good. This 
is the .earneit defire and prayer of ; &c. J. W. 

WORLDLY 



WORLDLY SUBSTANCE IMPROVED. IJ9 

o_— — o *-— 

WORLDLY SUBSTANCE H\£PROVEI>. 

Lord's day, May 31. 1747. The minifter hath been 
difcourfing on our Lord's faying, Make to yourfhes friends 
of the Mammon of unrighieoufmfs. Thus we ?.re taught 
true wifdom, even by iniquitous examples, and to confider 
all worldly riches- as of a deceitful nature. Indeed, all 
created enjoyments are vain and diflatisfying ; ©ur happinefs 
does not confid in the abundance of them ; their abun- 
dance rather increafes the miferies of life ; they can do 
nothing for us in the hour of death, and will make our 
future account the more awful and difficult. O my foul, 
wifely improve thefe hints. Sit loofe to the world, 
Catch not at riches too eagerly, nor grafp them too 
clofely. Ufe them for the end for which they were 
given. Ufe them as not abufing them. Be folicitous to 
make thyfelf a friend in heaven, by a right diitribution" of 
this mammon of unrighteoufnefs. Remember the faying 
of Chryfoflom, u A man does not become rich by laying- 
" up abundance, but by laying out abundance ; that is, by 
" laying it out for God." 

THE WORLD ECLIPSED BY A SIGHT OF CHRIST. 

[While one of his daughters was on a vifit at London^ 
Mr Williams wrote to her the following letter.] 

Mr Dear, ' June 7. 1747. 

Had you been bred and lived till this day, on the fide 
of a foreft, or in a wide open common, where you had on- 
ly feen a few fcattered cottages, and had known no other 
employ than feeding a few domeftic animals* or milking a 



Q z cow 



p 



l6o THE v.-ORLD ECLIPSED [17^ 

cow, nor any other CGnverfation than that of a few conn 
lads and laffes, how would your eyes have been delighted, 
and your mind enchanted, with the fight of fuch a town az 
Xidcerminfter! But now you have feen London, St Paul's, 
Ranelagh, Sec. how mean rauft your native place appear in 
yc-ur eyes, and how far mull it be from exciting your won- 
der or admiration !■ -Apply this to a foul, who by faith 

hath feen (Thrift and heaven, and can call Jefius his beloved 
atpd his friend, and the joys of heaven his own. Time was 
33 the great and gay things of this life, the treafures, 
the pomp, and the entertainments of this world, were the 
ipoft tempting objects he couid look upon ; but now he 
looks upon the world, with all its riches and gayeft fcenes, 
as a little, mean, and defpicable thing. And if the world 
begins to flatter him again, by looking great and tempting 
in his eyes, he looks again to Jefus and his falvation; thus 
the world quickly lofes all its fplendour and allurement. — 
Have you, my dear child, had fuch a fight of Jefus and fal- 
vation through him? Have you feen his perfonal excellen- 
cies, his almighty power to fave? Have you feen the incon- 
ceivable treafjres of his wifdom and knowledge ; how well 
able he is to confound all the policies of hell, and defeat 
Satan's mod fubtle devices, when he contrives mifchief 
againft his redeemed ones ? Have you feen his love and 
companion, and that his willingnefs is equal to his ability to 
fave all that come unto God by him : Have you read 
in his incarnation ? Have you traced it in his labours and 
ravels, in his preachings and pleadings with obftir.::: 
ners all day long, and in his midnight wreftlings with God 
upon the cold mountains ? Have you heard and belived it, 
in his kind invitations and melting language : Ho, every 
that thirfleth, come ye to the waters. Come unto me, ah ; e 
that labour and are heavy laden, and I :u rejh 

Him thai cometh unto me, I nvill in no wife caji out. Have 
vou feen it in his tjuiet fuhmiffion to cruel f-rTerings 



BY A SIGHT GF CHRIST* 26l 

bitter reproaches, in his agonies in the garden, when the 
teres of his foul drew from him ftrong cries and tears? 
Have you feen his perfecl righteoufnefs and atoning blood* 
a righteoufnefs not wrought out for himfelf but you* 
blood ihed not for himfelf but you ? Have you under- 
load it as the language of his arms, when fpread out na- 
ked on the crofs, that he is ready to embrace every com- 
ing (inner? Have you heard this as the voice of every 
wound of his body, while his breath expired amidft his 
blood and groans, Look into me, and be ye fcvedP Have 
you feen him procuring pardon of fin, and juitification un- 
to eternal life; that he hath made fatisfaction for the vileil 
of crimes, and die chief of finners ; that he hath a human 
nature which could die, and an indwe!ling"divinity which 
could put an infinite value upon his furFsrings, and make it 
an all-fufficient atonement for all your 6ns and guilt ; that 
he hath fulfilled God's perfect law, which we never could 
fulfil, and bore the curfe, which would have funk us down 
to endlefs mifery ; and all this not for himfelf, but for us ? 
Have you feen his righteoufnefs to be fuch as mail never 
be abolifhed, though the heavens are melted down, and the 
pillars of the earth taken away, and that he hath finiihed 
the tranfgreflion, made an end of fins, made reconciliation 
for iniquities, and brought in everlafting righteoufnefs J 
Have you been fully convinced that all power is given un- 
to him in heaven and in earth, and that he is able to keep 
. what is committed unto him againft that day? Have you 
feen him to be the faithful witnefs, who liveth and was 
dead, and is alive for evermore, Amen, and hath the keys 
of hell and of death ; and that whom he loves, he laves un- 
to the end? Have you alfo, from a fenfe of your fin and 
mifery, your gilt and corruption, your inability to fave your- 
{df, with inward grief and fincere repentance, folemnly 
committed your foul into his hands for falvation, relying 
entirely upon his all-fuifieieocy and faithfulnefs? And are 

O3 you 



lf)2 THE WORLD ECLIPSED-, 3CC. [l747* 

you frequently, in every religious duty, and in the intervals 
of duty, looking up to him as the Lord your righteoufnefs 
and ftrength ? If you have thus, and upon thefe accounts, 
committed yourfelf by prayer and humble dependence into 
the hands of Chrift as an all-fufficient Saviour, fincerely 
and earneftly defirous of his falvation in all the parts of it, 
falvation from fin, as well as from hell, depend upon it my 
dear child is a believer in Chrift, and fhall certainly be 
faved. Now, if this be your happy ftate and cafe, as I 
Lop i it is, what are all the great and gay things below the 
fides to you? How much more excellent and defirable do 
you fee holinefs, even in poverty and rags, than impiety 
and irreligion, though attended with the greateft pomp and 
grandeur! What a rich treafure are the promifes, as they 
are all yea and amen in Jefus Chrift ! Nor do the threat- 
enings wear a dreadful afpecl:, if you have feen Jefus with 
an eye of faith. Even the face of God, which is dreadful 
to the guilty foul, you may look upon without difmay, fines 
you have feen God in Chrift reconciling the world unto 
himfelf. Nor need you be furprifed with overwhelming 
ftars of forrows or fufFerings, or even death itfelf, fince 
Jefus hath abolifhed death, and taken away its fling. Hap- 
py fouls that are in fuch a cafe ! How careful mould, fuch 
be of their way and walk, left they wound their confeiences 
by contracting freflr guilt, fully their evidences, and mar all 
their comforts. O flee youthful lufts, which war againft 
the fouL By no means neglect prayer, nor ftarve your foul 
for want of frequent recourfe to the Fountain of all grace. 
Keep yourfelf in the love of God, looking for the mercy 
of our Lord Jefus Chrift unto eternal life. I commend 
you to him who is able to keep you ; and am, dear child, 
your truly affectionate father, J, W 



ENDEAVOURS TO RECLAIM A FRIEND. l6j 



* ENDEAVOURS TO RECLAIM A DISSOLUTE FRIEND. 

Wednefday, July 8. T747. Several times of late I have 

had fome enlargement in prayer for , that he 

may be converted and faved. With this view, I wrote 
*him a long letter laft week, in which I put many fearching 
queftions to him, defiring him to put them olofe to his con- 
ference. Yefterday morning, reading in Mr Baxter's Call 
to the Unconverted, and being (truck with the pungency 
of his arguments, it was fuggefted to my thoughts, that I 

fliould try to engage to come every evening, 

and hear me read to him in that book, till I had read it 
through, and conclude each evening with prayer. I im- 
mediately wrote him a fhort letter, which I begun with tel- 
ling him plainly, that I was more and more convinced, he 
was yet in an unconverted irate, that is, in an unpardoned 
{late, and was going to hell as faft as the wheels of time 
could carry him ; withal fignifying my firm perfuafion that 
he might yet obtain mercy, and defiring him to come to 
me in the evening. He did not come, therefore this 
morning I fent a meffenger, defiring him to come this 
evening. The melTenger prefently returned, and brought 
me a fealed letter. I was afraid to open it, till I had pour- 
ed out my foul to God for him, and had much enlarge- 
ment given me in pleading for him, which greatly animated 
my hc^pe, that God will have mercy on him. When I 
opened the letter, I found it contained an excufe for not 
coming before, and a promife to come this evening. Ac- 
cordingly this evening he hath been here, and finding him in a 
pliable difpofition, I took him into a private chamber, and 
made the propofal to him, to which he readily agreed. I 
read feveral pages, and then he joined with me in prayer, 
in which I put in fuit that promife, If two ofyoujhall a- 
gree en earth, as tmhmg any thing thai iheyjhall a/k, UJhall 

hi 



I C-f SAINTS SHINE WITH BORROWED RAYS. [l747» 

he done for them of my Father which is in heaven* The 
Lord was with us of a truth. I had great freedom, boldnefs 
and confidence : — had fighs and groanings unut- 
terable. We afterwards embraced and killed each other 
with great affection. He complained of a hard, obdurate 
heart. But I hope fovereign grace will mollify it, not- 
withftanding all the efforts of Satan to the contrary. I 
will now hear what God the Lord will fay, and attend to what 
he will do. O may we never be weary of well-doing ! 

^-0-@- 

SAINTS SHINE WITH BORROWED RAYS. 
On a jcurney. IFeSnefday, Jmly 22. 1747. 

'Twas on the day, when facred reft 
Kind Heaven enjoins to man and beaft ; 
Bright Phoebus fhot an early ray 
Acrofs the chamber where I lay, 
. But the refulgent effluence found 
My fenfe with downy {lumbers bound. 
Anon, from fleep's dominion freed, 
I gaz'd around with mindful heed, 
And msrk'd, furpriz'dj clofe by my bed ? 
A fun-beam on the ceiling fpread. 
I rofe, this mvfterv to trace, 
And, lo ! a mirrors polim'd face, 
Set to confront the god of day, 
Oblique, retorts his borrowed ray. 

Juft fo, thought 1, the Saviour gives 
The graces every faint receives ; 
Juft fo with borrowed rays he mines, 
Whilft Jefas all his foul refines. 
Each Chriftian is a looking-glafs, 



And Chrift the Sun of righteoufnefs, 



OBLIGATIONS 



OBLIGATIONS TO DIVINE GRACE. I 65 



OBLIGATIONS TO DIVINE GRACE. 
[To the Rev. Mr Pearfall, he writes thus.] 

Dear Brother, -4ugujl 15. 1747. 

Blessed be God, who looked upon youi diftrefs, and 
commanded the bitter cup to pafs from you. For us to 
live, may it be Chrift ! Many talents are put into your 
hands, and many into mine, of which we muft render an 
account. And the time is fhort. O how little do I at- 
tend to the main ends of life, as one that knows and be- 
lieves I mail fhortly die! I often wonder at myfelf, how 
unaffected I am with the moft furprifing acts of grace. 
Fain would I have been a libertine in my giddy youth, 
and feve reign grace prevented me. Fain would I have 
trod the downward road. O what fcenes of wickednefs 
did I fometimes meditate ! No doubt I mould have car- 
ried them in^o practice, if opportunity and impudence had 
been in proportion to inclination. For ever adored be the 
grace of Chrift, who redeemed me, not only from the guilt, 
but alfo from the power of fin, and not only from the guilt 
and power, but like wife from the pollution. " O what a 
" Chrift have I !" He bore my fins in his own body on 
the tree. I am complete in him; fo complete, that there 
is no more confeience of fins. O what a glorious privi- 
lege, to have our hearts fprinkled from an evil confeience! 
How inexcufable am I, if I do not love much, for I veri- 
ly believe much hath been forgiven me ! And why this 
grace to me! Why am I not committing fin with greedi- 
nefs, and filling up the meafure of my iniquities ! Why am 
I not as vile as the vileft ! At leaft, why am I not as vile 
as I would have been ! I am fare that to will a vain, fen- 
fual, flefh-pleafing life was prefent with me, and prevalent 
over me, and many a time it grieved me, that I could not 

fin 



1 66 OBLIGATIONS TO DIVINE GRACE. [*74> 

fin more impudently and without controul. Who changed 
the bias of my will, and turned the current of my affections? 
Who made me firft dread, and then hate the things I had 
dearly loved, and love the things I had loathed? Certainly 
it was almighty grace; nothing lefs could have done it. 
The voice that called dead Lazarus out of his grave, cauf- 
ed me, when dead in trefpafTes and fins, to hear his voicer 
and live. But why did he exert fuch power, and beflow 
fuch grace on me ! O infinite grace.! O boundlefs com- 
paffion! O free, rich, unmerited, diitinguifhir.g love! And 
why doth he now, while I am writing, fried abroad hia 
love in my heart, who, when I began to write, was as dull 
as a clod of earth i How many, who have lived mere ac- 
curately and more than I, are feeling af:er him, if 
haply they might find him! — Why is not this bewitching 
world a greater (bare to me? A much lefs increafe of its 
peffeffions enfnared my heart formerly. Why does not 
the abundance of it overwhelm my heart, and quench the 
coal of devotion? When I was not poffeiTedofhalffo much, 
he gave me to think it enough ; and fince that, without 
much plodding or projecting of mine, hath marked out my 
p&th to riches, and cauied them to come rolling in upon 
me, and more and more from year to year. And now, 
though alas ! not without a corrupt mixture, he is making 
his gifts matter for praife, and incentives to love, and in- 
clines me to make unto myfelf friends of the mam- 
mon of unrighteoufnefs. This is the victory that over- 
cometh the world, its fmiles as well as its frowns, even our 
faith. Blefled be his name, twenty-two years ago he en- 
abled me to defpife its frowns, when they appeared threat- 
ening enough; and now, adored be his grace, he (hews me 
better things than the Syren's enchanting fmiles. O ado- 
rable Jefas, thou art all in all to my foul! Let their money 
perifh with them, who efteem thoufands and ten thoufands 
of gold and Slyer worth one friendly look, one alluring 

word 



CHRIST CALLS HIS SERVANTS FRIENDS. I 67 

word from thee. But God forbid that I fliould glory, 
fave in the crofs of our Lord Jefus Chrrlt, by whom the 
world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Never, 
fure, was fuch grace beftowed upon fuch a worthlefs, un- 
grateful, unprofitable worm. — Let love with faith be the 
pulfe, and praife the breath of our fouls. So mall we have 
peace from God the Father, and from the Lord Jefus 
Chriil. Faith and love will do wonders. Let us pray 
Tor one another. I am, wifhing all grace to abound to- 
wards you, jour's indeed, J. W« 

CHRIST CALLS HIS SERVANTS FRIENDS. 

Lord 9 s day morning, October 4. 1 747* How aftoniihing 
is the condefcenfion of Jefas to all true believers! Hence- 
firth, fays he, I call you not fervanis, but I have called you 
friends, Tc are my friends ', if ye do what/sever I command 
you. The great Apoftle thought it an high honour to be 
entitled a fern ant of Jefus Chrl,h So it is, but certainly 
more is implied in being his friends. Now, where there 
is friendfhip, there mud: be a onenefs of nature. We fee 
there is a kind of fiiendihip among the brutes ; but their 
feveral affociations are only of thofe of the fame fpecies. 
The ox herds not with the fwine, nor the pigeon with the 
crow. *So man cannot ftrike up a friendfhip, but with one 
of his own nature. If therefore Chriil calls rod treats his 
people as his friends, there mult certainly be a onenefs of 
nature fubfifting between him and them. Accordingly we 
read, God was msnifefi In the flfh. The Word ~.i\is t?:ads 
jlefti and dwelt among us. There can be no friendihip 
between a holy God and finful man, but in and through 
Chrift, who unites both natures in himfelf. — There mult 
?.lfo be a conformity or Ukenels of dHpofiuons and tempers. 

The 



S 68 CHRIST CALLS HrS SERVANTS FIUEXDS. [1747, 

The fame mind muft be in us, that was in Chrift Jefus. 
Was he holy, harmlefs, undefiled, and feparate from fin- 
ners ? None are the friends of Chrift, nor will he own 
them as fuch, in whom there is not, in a prevailing 
though imperfect degree, the fame Chrift like difpcfition 
and temper. For if any man have not the Spirit of Chrift, 
he is none of his. Now, O my foul, is the fame mind in 
thee, which was in Chrift Jefus ? He came to do the will 
of his Father who fent him, and his Father's honour was 
deareft to him. When death, with all its horrors, ftared 
him in the face, fo that frail nature could not but pray, 
Father, fave me from this hour, he prefently checks him- 
felf, But for this caufe came I to this hour. Father, glorify 
thy name. When he was in his agony in the garden, he 
prayed more earneftly, Father, if it be pojfble, let this cup 
pafs from me, ntverihclefs not as I will, but as thou wilt* 
Not my will, but thine be den:. Now, is this the fupreme, 
defire and endeavour of my foul, that God may be glori- 
fied in me, by me, and upon me, whatever becomes of 
me, whatever advantages I muft give up, and whatever 
icorn, contempt, and reproach I am called to pafs 
through ? — Again, there muft be a onenefs of intercft, 
that a cordial friencmip may obtain, at leaft not a claming 
of interefts. What then is ChriiVs intereft ? In ail things 
to have his Father glorified, and himfelf, who is one with 
the Father ; to feek and to fave that which was loft, to 
take away fin, and to deftroy it; to fubdue Satan, and to 
put all his enemies under his feet. Do I efteem it my beft 
intereft to glorify God and Chrift, to fave fouls, to fubdue 
and fupprefs fin in my heart and life, and counteract the 



? 



r^VITINC 



INVITING A FRIEND TO THE LORD'S TABLE. l6g 



INVITING A FRIEND TO THE LORD'S TABLE. 

the fame perfon, as April 15. 174S and January 2r, 

I747-] 
Dear , October 3c. 174", 

Why do you not eat bread and drink wine, in remem- 
brance of Chrilt, according to his command ? Is it not 
a glorious privilege, to eat the flelh, and drink the blood 
of the Son of man, the Lamb of God, which taketh 

ly the fins of the world ? Would you not think it a 
great hardfliip, a diftreffing circumftance, to be excepted 
by name, and forbid ever to partake of this folemnity? 
Have you enough of Chrift ? Do you enjoy as much ot 
him as you defire ? Or do you imagine you can enjoy as 
much of him in the neglect, as in the ufe of his own pre- 
ferred means ? Does not our Lord Jefus beft know in 
what ways to manifeit himfeif, and impart his grace, to the 
5 that do hunger and thirft after him ? Bread and wine 
are in themfelves means of neorifhing our bodies and cheer- 
ing our fpirits ; and it is well remarked by Mr Her: 

" Not in rich furniture, or "fine array, 

11 Nor in a wedge ot gold, 

" Thou, v, ho for me ' 
" To me doft now thyfelf convey; 
11 For fo thou Jhoo me Hill have been, 

" Leavirg within me Co. 

" But by the way of nouriihment and ilrength, 
11 Thou creep'fl into :nv breait, 
r - Making my reft* 

" And . :s my length, 

<; Which fpread their forces into every part, 
" Meeting fin's force and art," 

* P Does 



17- INVITING A HvIEND TO THE LOa^S TAZLI, _i; T ~- 

Dees ret this uaore c Goyo cf Chrilt in the facra- 

men: cf his Suouer : Dees yo-vt io.d banner 
r;:aai bred; come and ; it. D 

. land drccp ? Here is fpiritual drink, a rich 

third: ; come ; ■.". a cheer your heart - 
the love of ChrLr. Kave yea itrer.g::: 

y and ajpinfl every temptation r I: n ftrong ? 

- -yes rirm - :h: r Doe? »art burn 

with :ve: Are your counhc-ts lively ? Is all within 

as yon would have it ? If r . : me where ah fopj lies are 
fee :ed ; where you may eat and be ftrengther 

may drink and forget your : — Dt :u fey, " I in- 

u lead : : : the facred feaft fome time, but k 

€i on not yet duly prepare j : br it :'' But if yon c 

ti me, hy not now? Would you come when you 
have ■ or '. h 

ro: for thofe full, bat for the hungry, 

.now that they are wretched, and r 
-and ;::or, and bii A. -. re n ~: yen one c: 

t:on would you make ? Does 
oli .: be A: excec: a orefent at your hands ; Ye:, 

ices. Toe faeribees A G:d are a broken A:::; - 
broken and a c:n:ri:e heart. G o d , thou wilt not def : 

rouroei: at: God Come, join pnrfelf to 
3 perpetual covenant that (hall not be forgot- 

- Aibited 
'do::.: v.v.h :h toe :ene:::s and bienAy: c: 
Certainly it is that on which your f: 
spends. Does Chrift fay, Thefe things I h^- 
vr?«, thai njvjoy may remain in you, and thai your 
Abb And may not this with great propriety be 
applied to his inftitution of his Supper ? Therefore, as 
value growth, eftabliihment, and perfeverance in grace ; as 
value peace and joy in believing; celebrate the memo- 
i: : ; ;he all-fuiEcient friend of finners. 

I: 



C: 


. : i e j ' . : 


the 


Leri, 


ten 


T\- 'm 


to " 




his 


arena 


pen 


:v ma : 



REJOICING IN* A FRIENDS EARLY PIETY. I 7 I 

It is becaufe I greatly defire your edification and comfort, 
that thefe things are thus propofed to yo» ; , 8cc; 

-&■&-<&> 

REJOICING IN A FRIEND'S EARLY PIETY. 



[To a young lady, who had for fame time been one ol 



Mr Williams's faroiJ" " 



Dear Mis?, December 12. 1-47. 

I remember ftill that you was once my charge, 
Though I cannot fay, / bras n you through the 

gofp'l; yet the fhare an indulgent Providence allowed me 
therein, affords me many a delight . How 

tranfporting is the hope I have, that no lefs than feven 
young fouls under my roof have been born, in a ipintual 
fenfe, within the lpace of two or three years ! It is the 
life of my life. I have indeed growing hopes, that every 
child of mine is a child of God, and every fervant or 
mine (I mean domefKc fervants) is a fervant oi Chrift, be- 
fides two others who were only fojoufners with me, and 
I do and will rejoice therein. It is mere to me, than all 
that outward rrofperhy with which it hath pleafcd my 
bountiful Lord to blefs me. And are you, dear Mi&, 
that happy number ? You will never be able to pay the 
mighty debt of gratitude, and love you owe to him, who 

h faved ycu, and called you with an : ing. Do 

but conlider what you was v -he:a he firft bega^n to draw 
ycu to himftlf with bands of love. At that time you was. 
dead in triefpafles and fns ; without Ghrift, having no v. 
grca >pe, and without God in the world. Could 

change your own heart? Did every one who heard 
ir.me word, which was made effectual to ycur awaken- 
ing, fo h?ar the voice of the Son cf God, as to live a 
P 2 nev/ 



I72 REJOICING IN A FRIEND'S EARLY PIETY, f I 74/ ^ 

new life ? And why was you made to hear it ? As many 
as receive Chrift, and believe on his name* are born, not 
of blood, nor of the will of the flefli, nor of the will of 
man, but of God. Of his own will begat he us by the 
word of truth. Where is hoafting then : It is excluded. 
What pralfe is due to him, who hath quickened you 
'; ether with Chrift, and faved you by grace! O the 
bleiTednefs, to be refcued from eternal mifery, to which we 
:e doomed, and to be advanced to the dignity of fons of 
God. and the heirs of an incorruptible crown! Jm 
you £kw a condemned malefactor in his chains for exe- 
cution, whofe downcafl locks excite pity in every beholder. 
Imagine again, that you faw this piteous fueclacle releafed 
from prifon, his fetters knocked off, dripped of his prifon- 
garments, arrayed in veftures of fcarlet and fine linen, 
adorned with the royal ring, and a golden chain about his 
neck, made to ride in the fecond chariot, as Jofeph, or in 
the third, as Daniel, and made ruler over all the land, 
then you will have a faint idea of what fovereign grace 
hath, I truft, done for you. Does not all this engage you 
to a life of gratitude and felf-denying obedience ? And as 
this was the price of blood, the blood of the King's Son, 
how great are your obligations to the Ranfomer of vour 

foul! When I think of fuch love to my own foul, alas,. 

how languid are my returns of love, how feeble my effavs 
of praife ! Monftrous ingratitude ! 

* ; Were it not common, would- not this be flraniie r 
81 That 'tis fo common, this is ftranger ftill." 

My dear Madam, fuffer no eilrangement betwixt God and 
your foul. Be jealous of whatever may damp your love 
to, or enervate your faith in Jefus. Pray without ceafmg. 
Let the clock be your monitor to afcend on high on wings 
of faith, and in flames of love, as the cock to Peter, when 
he went out and wept bitterly. The facred flames muft 



CHARITY ENTtETH NCT. I 73 

be fanned, or it will be choaked with afhes. Often warm- 
your heart in pious converfation with experienced Chriftians. 
Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. Bear 
me upon your thoughts in your bed moments. AiTure 
yourfelf, that though you are far diftarit, you yet are fre- 
quently remembered by, dear Mifs, youths, &c. J. W, 

CHARITY ENVIETH NOT. 

[Concerning a rival in trade, Mr Williams laid down for 
himfelf the following rules.] 

January 20. 1748. Be not at all duTatisfied, that. 

Mr is before me, or that he hath got fome orders 

I mould have had, if I had been before him. The great 
houfeholder careth for all the families of the earth, and 

Ivlr hath a family to provide for as well as I. It 

is all for the beft. It is as Providence, unerring Provi- 
dence, hath appointed, who never miftakes the inteiefts of 
his children. The Koly Spirit fays, Be carefuljor nothing. 
I would have you without carefulnefs, Cafling all your cate~ 
upon him , for he canth for you. Let this be the governing 
temper of my mind. Leave it every day to the great and 
wife Difpofer to deal out to me that meafure of fuccefs in 
bufinefs he fees bed for me. Be not only willing, but de- 
iirous he mould chufe for me. Receive difappointmentsi 
as well as profperity, with thankful nefs to him, who fees 

a mixture of both bed for me. Labour to love Mr 

as myfelf, and enjoy his profperity. Envy hurts none but 
the envious. Let not a thought of envy find place in my 
heart. God is doing his people good oftentimes/ when 
they are ready to fay ? with good old Jacob, All theft things 
arc aga'inft me, 



174 A NATIONAL FAST. C'74^ 

A NATIONAL FAST. 
WednefJay February 17. 1748. O my foul, the go- 
vernment God hath fet over us, hath proclaimed a faftv 
This is the day fet apart and appointed to be kept with 
fafting and prayer. Conlider now, O my foul, how I 
ought to keep it, or, what is the fajl the Lord hath chofen? 
— We of thefe kingdoms are a very finfu! God-provoking 
people. All ranks of men among us are become degene- 
rate. We have apparently been growing worfe. It is a 
snoft profligate, degenerate age in which we live. Iniqui- 
ty hath abounded long. Religion is at a very low ebb 
among its profeffors. The love of many waxeth cold. 
Should I not cry and figh for all the abominations that be 
done in the midft of us ? And fhould not my foul weep 
in fecret places for the prevalence of pride and luxury, 
and all that wickednefs practrfed in the land? And fhould 
I not be deeply humbled for my own fins in particular ? 
In order to which, mould I not bring my heart and life 
under a ftricl: and impartial examination, that I may cif- 
cover what is the plague- of my heart, and may put away 
whatever is evil from me J This is the faft that the Lord 
hath chofen, to loofe the bands of wickednefs, to undo the 
heavy burdens, and to let the oppreffed go free, that we 
break every yoke, and deal our bread to the hungry. The 
Lord help me to keep fuch a fair, that if wrath be gone 
forth from the Lord, and evil be determined againfl this 
Jand, I may at leafl deliver my own foul. 

<&zr& 

REFLECTIONS ON AUTUMN AND SPRING. 
[In a letter to his wife, Mr Williams wfote.] 
Mr JDearect, Brtftoly dpril 9. 1748. 

It is pleafant to iurvey the works of nature, to obferve 
new life {lining in the vegetable world, and its glorious 

Aw 



REFLECTIONS ON AUTUMN AND SPRING. I 7 J 

Author bleffing the fpricging thereof. Every tree, hedge, 
and bum is budding, or mooting forth its leaves, and fome 
of them begin to difplay their bloffoms, beds of primrofes 
fkirt many of the banks, and befpangle the bofoms of o» 
thers, while an univerfal verdure makes the fields and mea- 
dows look young again. How many quickening reflec- 
tions mould fuch a fcene fagged to me? Shall my immortal 
fpirit be dull, and dead, and inactive, whilft inanimate na- 
ture is operative in a thoufand forms ? Even the grafs, 
which hath no cultivation, fprings and moots cut its fpires, 
and mail I, who enjoy fo many and rich advantages for 
improvement, be like a barren clod ? Even the birds, who 
know nothing of their Creator and Preferver, warble forth 
his praifes, and mall I be filent in his praife, who know 
him, or rather am known of him, and am confcious of be- 
nefits and obligations fo innumerable ? Very different 

was the fcene which prefented itfelf in my lad journey in 
October and November. Old age was then far advanced 
upon the various tribes of the vegetable kingdom, and 
death was extending its vaft empire all around. Millions 
of leaves were fallen, or falling, into the lap of mother-earthy 
which fhortly mall receive you and me. Is it a melan- 
choly thought i No ; let but faith draw the vail afide, 
and the thought is joyful. As furely as I now behold a 
kin^J of refurrection in the works of nature, fo furely mall 
thefe bodies arife from the grave. The faplefs leaf is fal- 
len and periihed, and freffi buds fill and adorn every fpray. 
So furely mall this corruptible put on incorruption, and 
this mortal (hall put on immortality. Let us not fear to 
go down into the grave. He that raifed up the Lord Je- 
fus from the dead, (hall certainly raife up us alio by Jefus* 
Nor let us fear to trud our fouls* our immortal interefts 
with him, who died for us, and rofe again. As the fun 
with its genial beams is now cheering and invigorating all 
re ; and drawing forth its germjnatiye powers > io (hail 

QUI 



fjS visiting, a snare to piety. f i 7-48-. 

our foals be drawing frefh fupplies from the Sun of righte- 
oafnefs, and be going from ftrength to ftrength. — Let 113 
meet daily before the throne, till through adorable grace 
we afcend thither. My love to every child, fervant, re- 
lat : on, and friend. Walk in love, as Chrift alfo hath loved 
us. I am, my dfarfft, your's mod: affectionately. J. W* 



-<^o 



VISITING, A SNAR.E TO PIETY. 

[To a daughter, who was vifuing her friends in a diftant 
neighbourhood, Mr Williams wrote thus.] 

My dear Child, Kidclerminfler y jum 9. 1748. 

It is not the bodily health, and cheerfulnefs, and out* 
ward profperity of my children,, that I principally look at, 
Bear with me if I entertain a degree of jealoufy concerning 
the temper of your mind. You are now in a irate of leif- 
ure, and among friends, who will do all in their power to 
render your (lay with them, eafy and cheerful. But are 
there not fnares attending every date, and particularly that 
you are now in ? The cares of a family are attended with 
one kind of fnares; leifure, inaction, .and obliging regard 
of friends, with another kind. For my part, I have al- 
ways found friendly vilrts and engagements had a tendency, 
for. a time, to loofen my regards for my bed Friend and 
be ft interefts. Such is the weaknefs of cur minds, we can at- 
tend but to one thing at a time ; and.fo contrary is the fpirit 
of the world to the Spirit of God, and the interefts of the 
world to the interefts of Chrift, that while we are ftudious 
to pleafe, and oblige, and make ourfelves agreeable to our 
friends, we naturally have our hearts and affections drawn 
off from God. —I do not fay this, becaufe I would have you 
otherwife than eafy, and cheerful, and obliging among your 
friends. Nay I really fcfaifik it is your duty, in prefent cir- 

cumftances* 



THE DOUBTING CHRISTIAN COMFORTED. 177 

cum fiances, to cheriih and cultivate a cheerful temper, and 
difmifs carefulnefs and anxiety. It may, as means, con- 
duce much to the recovering your health and ftrengtb. 
There is a time to laugh, and a time to dance, as well as a 
time to weep y and a time to mourn, — Yet beware of too much 
levity, left your heart fhould thereby be eftranged from God 
and religion. It will require you to be much upon your 
guard. Spend as much time as you conveniently can in 
fecret. Commune with your own heart. Converfe with 
God in Chrift. Every hour at leaft, and in whatever com- 
pany, be lifting up your foul to God. By this means your 
cheerfulnefs will be the more decent and womanly. 1 knew 
not whether you thought of it, to take a pocket companion 
with you, and therefore I have fent you one. That you 
may be under the protection and bleiling of the Almighty, 
and the grace of our Lord J ef us Chriji may be with your 
/pirit, is and fhall be the prayer of your affectionate father, 

. J-W. 

THE DOUBTING CHRISTIAN COMFORTED. 

[To a brother-in-law, Mr Williams wrote the following 
letter.] 

Dear Brother, dugujl 21. 1748. 

May he that was anointed with the Spirit of the Lord 
to bind up the broken-hearted, direct me to fpeak a word 
in feafon to you. Your complaints run thus : " 1 cannot 
" find that the word of God hath effectually touched me> 
" I know I have an evil heart of unbelief, but am not 
" feelingly fenfible of it. I fee reafon to fear the worflv 
" but this fear is not prevalent. I am dull and dead, for- 
" mal and fupine in the mod folemn duties, and under the 
*' moft awakening fermons 8 My heart is molt lifelefsin 

"feafons 



1 7S THE DOUBTING CHRISTIAN COMFORTED. [1748. 

" feafons the mod; enlivening. So far from ferving God 
€t in fpirit and in truth, that I can fcarce ferve him even 
"with my lips; oftentimes addreffing him with words 

u without a heart; at other times with neither words not 
u heart. And when I think on thefe things, I conclude 
" niyfelf to be in a rery bad (rate." Were this really the 
judgment of God concerning your temper and ftate, I too 
mould think you in a very bad (late. I am glad this is 
only your own judgment, You are judging yourfelf, that 
you may not be judged. And now give me leave to judge 
you out of your own mouth, not what your Goal Crate is, 
but by the nature and tendency of your complaints, from 
what principle they flow, and whether it is not pofiible you 
are forming a wrong judgment of your ftate. Suppofe you 
fhould hear me fay, " My head aches much, or my ftomach 
" is very fick, but I do not feel it." Suppofe at the fame 
time you were convinced that I enjoyed a right exercife of 

my fenfes. What would you think of me? 1 will not 

flatter you. I really think your ftate is not fuch as it mould 
be, nor fuch as ought to be reded in. After all the fenfe 
you have of your own finfulnefs and weaknefs in yourfelf, 
and abfolute need of. a Saviour, you have not yet come to 
him labouring and heavy laden. If you had, thefe com- 
plaints would have been in fome meafure at an end; for to. 
fuch as come to him he hath promifed reft ur.to their fouls. 
What he hath promifed, he will certainly perform. Ac- 
cordingly the apoftfe fays, We <whkb have believed^ do enter, 
or, as I think it fhould be rendered, are entered into rej. — - 
It feems to me, you are not brought to that degree of po- 
verty of fpirit, as to fee your own nothingnefs and inefficien- 
cy, to be emptied of felf and all felf- confidence. Or if ydu 
have, yet you have not feen the fulnefs that is in Chriir, a 
fulnefs of every divine perfection, a fulnefs of merit, of 
companion, and of goodnefs. For if you had, you would 
reft upon the Saviour, and upon his immutable yiemile, 

Lev/ 



THE DOUBTING CHRISTIAN COMFORTED. 1*9 

how much foever you find matters out of order in yourfelf. 
You would believe, that he came not to call the righteous, 
but finners to repentance; and as a firmer, you would come 
to him, lay hold on him, and put in your claim to all the 
"bleflxngs of his purchafe. — Though your Rate is not fuch as 
I could wifh, yet I cannot pronounce it bad. Though you 
feem not yet to have found the pearl of great price, yet it 
is plain you are feeking after it, and the promife is, Seek, 
and ye fh all find. When you fay, " I would fain have 
u fuch an inward principle of grace, that my duty mould 
u become my real delight and pleafure, and it fhould be as 
i( natural for me to feive and love God, as it is to eat and 
<; drink ;" the meaning is, you would fain ferve God. bet- 
ter, and be more entirely free from corruption and fin, 
from backwardnefs to duty, and dulnefs in it, than any 
man upon earth. He who fpake as never man fpake', fays 
of this temper of mind, Bl^d an thy which do hunger and 
thirft after rtghteoufnefs. He fcruples not to pronounce 
fuch bleffed, who have an unfeigned forrow for pad fins, 
who earneftly defire the mercy of God in Chriir. for pardon 
and fanctification, who are difpleafed with their own doubt- 
ing and unbelief, and defire to believe in God through 
Chrifr.. They are bleffed; for the time draws near, when 
they (hall have- plenty of faith, and afTurance of the mercy 
of God in Chrift Jefus, for they (hail be filled. Their pre- 
fent defiies are the motions of Cod's Spirit, and the true 
pledges of his grace. They are the beginnings of that faith, 
of which Chrifr. is the author and finiilier. Certainly he 
which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it, will 
perfect and complete it, until the day of jefus Chrifl. If 
you would have peace and joy in believing-, you muft be 
wretched, and miierable, and poor, and blind, and naked 
in your own eyes. In fuch a temper go to Chrifl, and take 
him at his word. If you delay, till your apprehenfions of 
fpiritual things, your humiliation for fin, your zeal and fer- 
vour 



ISO THE HAPPINESS OF LIVING BY FAITH. [1748. 

your of devotion, your faith, and hope, and lov T e, are fuch 
as you would have them to be, let me tell you, you will 
never go to Chrift at all. But if, under a fenfe of your 
pollution and poverty, your guilt and unprofitablnefs, you 
will go to him, repenting, and believing, for every thing 
you want, he will not fend you away empty. Do you want 
to be converted and born again ? Go and tell him he hath 
promifed to give you a new heart, and put within you a new 
- fpirit. Do you want faith ? Cry to him, Lord, help mine un- 
belief; Lord f increafe my faith. Do you want repentance ? 
Plead how God hath exalted him, to give repentance and 
forgivenefs of fins. Do you want love ? Can plants and flow- 
ers go up to the fun for cheering rays to make them fpring 
and flouriih? No; but the fun can vifit them with genial beams. 
And is not Chrift the Sun of righteoufnefs ? Go to him with 
that very complaint, " Lord, I want to love thee, but I can- 
" not. I would fain love thee more fervently then I love any 
u mortal object, but I cannot make my love afcend. Lord, 
" thou canft died abroad thy love in my heart, and then I 
M mail not fail to reflect thy own beams. " My dear bro- 
ther, if you think to get love to Chrift any other way than 
by prayer for his love to you, ycu will be miftaken. It is 
not fo much what you have done for Chrift, as what Chrift 
hath done for you, that muft lay the foundation, and raife 
the fuperftructure too, of your comfort and joy. But 
what need I enlarge to you, who enjoy much better helps ? 
I am, dear Sir, your affectionate brother, J. W« 

THE HAPPINESS OT LIVING BY FAITH. 

[To the fame young lady as December 12. 1747O 

Dear Miss, September 24. 1748. 

1 often call to mind Dr Prefton's excellent advice, 
€{ Not to make thofe" things neceflary to our happinefs, 

" which 



TOT HAPPINESS OF LIVING BY FAITH. iSl 

H which we may poffibly be deprived of." This is the 
glorious privilege of them, who have chofen God for their 
portion, that their portion is always prefent, and that it is 
not in the power of any thing to deprive them of it. 
With the great Apoftle, they may triumph, that neither 
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, 
nor things prefent, nor things to come, nor height, nor 
depth, nor any other creature, mall be able to feparate "us 
from the love of God, which is in Chrift Jefus our Lord. 
They may be tortured with pain, emaciated by ficknefs, 
reduced to poverty, imprifoned, or captives in a ftrange 
land, and torn away from the embraces of the neareft part- 
ners of their blood ; but ft ill their portion abides with 
them ; a prefent God, an all-fufficient Saviour, can and 
will mpport them in and under all. Nothing can make 
us happy in the abfence of fuch a friend ; nothing can 
make us miferable in his prefence. Who would not co- 
vet, who would not cultivate fuch a friendfliip ?- — I am 
glad to fee your laft letter breathe fo much of fuch a fpirit. 
I am glad you are taught to feek reft in Chnfl: alone; not 
in religious exercifes, however deferable as appointed means. 
Our tempers vary; our comforts ebb and flow 5 if we reft 
-in thefe, we muft be reitlefs. But Chrift is the fame, yef- 
terday, and to-day, and for ever. . Sooner mail heaven 
and earth pafs away, than one word of his fall to the 
ground. Build your hopes upon his promife, and all the 
artillery of hell (hall not be able to make them. Stand 
upon this rock, and you will be as mount Zion. But if 
you truft in your own frame, in your own fenfations, you 
will be like a reed fhaken with every wind of temptation. 
How hardly are we brought to this, to truft in the pro- 
mife alone, or rather in the Promifer ! How many pious, 
but trembling fouls have I known, and now know, whofe 
judgment is convinced that God in Chrift is the ultimate 

Q_ objecl 



102 WISE CHILDREN MAKE GLAD PARENTS. [1748, 

object af faith, and a fure refuge to all that fhelter them- 
felves under the madow of his wings, and yet cannot get 
rid of their fears. Why? Becaufe they only rely upcn him 
when their affections are (Hired, or when their devotion 
flames. But certainly it is our duty, our interefr, to trufl 
In the Lord at all times. This is the cure God himfelf 
propofes for the foul that walketh in darknefs and hath 
no light ; let him truil in the name of the Lord, and (lay 
upon his God. This is to come unto Chrift, as thofe 
that labour and are heavy laden, to whom he promifes, / 
nvill give you reft. If therefore we do not find reft unto 
ourfelves, it muft be becaufe we do not come labouring and 
heavy laden, deeply humbled, and entirely quitting all o- 
ther refuges, as poor finners, as helplefs creatures. Thus, 
having no confidence in the flefh, we are beft prepared to 
rejoice in Chrift Jefus. I greatly defire your eftahlimment 
in grace, and joy in the Lord. I commend you to the 
bleffing of the Almighty, and defire your devout remem- 
brance of, dear M : fs, your's, &e. J* W. 

^-®-<& 

WISE CHILDREN MAKE GLAD PARENTS. 

Fin a letter to the fame pious relative as in October 2:.. 
1739, Mr Williams writes thus.] 

Dear Cousi:;, . October I. 1748. 

I commend you for taking up fo pious, fo felf-denying 
a refolution. You fee how defirous thofe are to die the 
death of the righteous, whenever they admit a thought of 
it, who will not live the life of the righteous, but their 
fkftily lulls they will gratify, though they cannot but 
know they war againft their fouls. O how thankful 
■Ihould we be, if God hath inclined our hearts to mind the 
one thing ne^dful/and choofe that good part which fhali 

no: 



WISE CHILDREN MAKE GLAD PARENTS. l8 



J 



not be taken away from us ! How thankful, if we have- 
been made to fee our need of a Saviour, fo as to hunger 
and third after him, to eat the, flefh and drink the blood 
of the Son of Man, and to be enabled to rejoice in him 1 
— I had a letter from each of my dear children. The 
younged, who has not yet finished her fifteenth year*, 
melted my very foul with her expreffions of gratitude and 
duty, a fenfe of her privileges and obligations, and her ar- 
dent afpirations in favour of her parents. After magnify* 
ing her peculiar advantages, thefe are her expreffions ; 
<; My gratitude to you, dear Sir, fare fhould warble in the 
" fweeted drains, and fparkle with the moil refined luftre. 
" I am fure it warms my heart. And indeed, if it did 
" not, it might juftly be numbered among the greateft ab- 

11 furdities in nature. My dear Papa, I again return 

" you mod grateful thanks for your earned concern for 
u my foul's prefperity. Surely it ftiaM not all fall to the 
c< ground. God will reward you for all your tender care 
u and diligent watchfulnefs over your childrens fouls. I 
" would defire to make it always my mod earned peti- 
" tion, that my dear parents may have blefiings, doubled 
" and redoubled, returned to them again. When you 
H come to us, may a celedlal band be continually hovering 
" over you, and fcreen you from all inconveniencies and 
** difaders. Winter begins to found an alarm. The 
** warbling fongders are growing dill, and referring their 
iC melody for the returning blooming feafon. The fra- 
" grant flowers clofe up their cheering afpecl. The ver- 
" dant meads and fhady trees will foon wear winter's 
c< rough attire. But this is your condant happinefs to 
" know that the bright world, to which you are hadening, 
" cannot fuffer a gloom amidd its mod refined enjoyments^ 
** no withering autumn to veil its hrighted fcenes. 

Q_2 " There. 

* She was afterward the wife of the Eev. Mr lUchaid .Winter*, 



• ?4 TH£ INTERCESSION OF CHRIST [ I 748', 

u There eyerlafting fpring abides, 

" And never-with'ring ftow'rs," &c. 

None but a parent knows the heart of a parent. Never- 
theless you cannot be infenfible, that to a fond father the 
contents of this letter muft be very grateful. Eleffed be 
God for all his confolations, through whatever mediums. 
Doubt not, dear coufin, of a bleffing in (tore for you. 
balute my much honoured aunt in my name, and accept 
this token of love and refpect, and forget not to pray for, 
your's, J. W. 

THE rNTERCESSION OF CHRIST. 

Qflohtr 15. 1748. A delightful meditation I enjoyed 
yeilerday on thofe words, He ever livtth to make inter ajfi^n 
far us. I confidered how Chrift intercedes for us; that he 
prefents his furTerings and facrifice in our behalf and in our 
{lead. As the High Pried went not into the Holy of 
Holies without blood, to make atonement for the people; 
So our glorious High Priefl: prefents before God his body, 
that body which was faerificed for us 1 ; and he intercedes, 
by earneftly defiling the forfeited bleflings to be reftored to 
us./ But what are the ble-ilincs which Chrift intercedes fcr 

/ in behalf of his people ? While I was msfing upon that, the 
fire burned, and I was enabled, in full affurance of faith, 
and with facred joy, thus to apply, as I went on in my 
journey. — He intercedes for the pardon of penitent and be- 
lieving finners. Father, forgive them. Therefore I hope, 
my fins are pardoned.— He intercedes for the prefcrvation 
of his people in their temptations and afflictions. Holy 

I v Father , keep them through thy own, name. 1" here fore I (hail 
be preferved and kept. — He intercedes for their fan 61 ifi ca- 
tion. Sanftfy them through thy truth. Therefore I fhall 

he. 



DESIRE TO DO GOOD TO 3GULT* lS$ 

be fanclified, and be enabled more and more to die unto 
fin, and live unto righteoufnefs. — He intercedes for an 
union of his people with God and with one another. That 
they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee; 
that they all may be one in us. Therefore I am and (lull 
be vitally united to God in Chrift Jefus. — He intercedes 
for their confolation. Thai the world may know that thou 
hafl loved them as thou baft loved me. Therefore the God 
of peace fhall nil me with all joy and peace in believing.— 
And finally he intercedes with the Father to give his peo- 
ple everlafting glory. Father, I will, that they alfo whom 
thou hajl given me, be with me where 1 am, that they may le* 
hold my glory which thou hajl given me. Therefore as for 
me, I fhall behold thy face in righteoufnefs ; I fhall be Sa- 
tisfied* when I awake, with thy likenefs. How amazing, 
how unchangeable is the love of our glorious Immanuel ! 
How fafely may believers trud their fouls in his hand, and 
reft fatisfied with his intercefiion ! 

@..0.«@ 

DESIRE TO DO GOOD TO SOULS. 

Saturday night, December 24. 1748. It hath long been 
my earned defire and prayer, that the blefTed God would 
make me indrumental in awakening and converting precious 
fouls. For this purpofe, I took pains with many of my 
young friends 30 or 40 years ago. He gave me a travail- 
ing foul for every one of my children, particularly, when 
in baptifm I folemnly devoted each- of them to Father,. 
Son, and Holy Ghod; and for every one of thofe that are 
dead, in their lad ficknefs, that their guilt and filth might 
be warned away in the blood of Chrift; and for the three 
which furvive, more efpecially from the time they came fe- 
verally to 17 years of age^and upward. At fundry times 
my very heart hath been drawn out in earned prayer for 

Qj one 



l86 DESIRE TO DO GOOD TO SOULS. fl 748. 

one and another, and ezch cf them, as alfo for each of my 
domeftic fervants, that Chrhr. may be formed in them. 
How far my poor prayers and endeavours have contri- 
buted to the working a faving change in them, as alfo in 
fome other young perfons whofe parents defired that they 
might for a while be under my roof, perhaps God only 
knows. However I have the joy of feeing, or hearing, that 
they all walk in the truth. I have the joy of hoping and 
believing, I think, on good grounds, that no lefs than /even 
young fouls have been born to God in my family within 
thefe three or four years. May all the praife be afcribed 
to him who worketh all in all. — I am juft now not with- 
out hopes, that the Lord hath made ufe of my poor endea- 
vours to awaken one, if not two, who before feemed to lie 

fail afl.eep in finful fecurity. Very lately at , after 

tranfacting bufinefs with a diffenter in that town, among 
other things which fell from him in converfation,. he let me 
know, that he had once in his life failed, or broke. Pre- 
fuming .thence that he had paid his debts only by compofi- 
tion, I afeed, whether he had/ ever paid- the furplus, or what 
was due to his creditors over and above the compofi- 
tion ? He owned he had not. I therefore told him, with 
a degree of Item folemnity, that he mud do it. I even 
sliced him, how he would dare to ftand before the judgment- 
feat of ChrUtj his juft debts not being paid, and he being 
able to pay the whole: Many more things I faid to the 
fame parpofe, and in the moft folemn manner ; for he ap- 
pears to be in affluent circumftances. — The fame perfon 
told me alfo, that he intended to ride out in the country 
next day. I enquired what neceffity there was of his tra- 
velling from home on the Lord's day? Perceiving there 
was none, I laboured to difiuade him from his purpofe, but 
could not find that my difiuafions availed any thing. I 
faw nothing of him at the two firft meetings, but. in the 
evening he came, and fat in the table-pew, where I alfo fat. 

He 



DESIRE TO DO GOOD TO SOULS. l&J 

He feemed to be greatly affected under the fermon. I 
was very glad to fee how he melted under the word, and 
refolved to fpend part of the evening with him. Ac*' 
cordingly, I went to his houfe, and (pent about two 
hours with him in very free converfation and prayer. 
I fpared not to fet his fins in order before him, and to fnsv/ 
him the neceffity of repentance and faith in the blood of 
Chrtft, in order that he might obtain acceptance with God. 
He wept fore, and freely owned to me many convictions 
he had had, and refolutions he had formed, which had all 
come to nothing, and that to that day he had lived in the 
neglect of prayer, but fignified his conviction of the neceffity 
of it, and his refolution, by the help of God, to begin and 
conftantly keep up prayer in his farr ; ly. I prayed with 
them, had great enlargement, and he, by his groanings and 
tears, feemed to be much engaged. I took an opportunity 
of fpeaking to his wife, who feems to be a truly pious wo- 
man, and endeavoured to convince her of the neceffity of 
his paying all his juft debts, if he would make his peace 
with God by repentance and faith in the blood of Chrifly 
She feemed to hearken to me. He accompanied me after- 
wards to my inn, and promifed to act agreeably to the ad- 
vice I had given him. Since that I have wrote to him to 
the fame purpofe. May the Lord fet my addreffes home 
to his heart! — Before I entered on the fame journey? a 

young man of defired leave to travel with me. 

I quickly found my companion had converted with fome 
Deifts, and though he would not own it, had too much 
given into their infidel notions. Many a difpute we had 
upon the road, while we travelled together aimoft a fort- 
night. Many a time I had it in my mind to talk with 
him in the moft fearching manner. At laft Providence 

gave me a molt fit opportunity at — — - — , a night 

or two before we were to part. Many a ftruggle I had 
with myfelf, but at length all my fooiilli objections were 

Clenced, 



]83 DESIRING TO DO GOOD TO SOULS. [*74&. 

filenced, and I converted with him, about three hours, con- 
cerning the deep things of God. Before I had done, he 
feemed to be convicted, and frankly owned his want of 
love to God and to our Lord Jefus Chrift, and appeared 
to be fenfible he was no more than a nominal Chriftian. 
This gave me great encouragement, and 1 parted with him 

at , with full intention to profecute, by writing, 

what had been begun in convention. When I returned 
home, I found a letter he had fent me a few days before, 
and it was no fmall difappointment to me, to find it was 
about a fmall pecuniary affair, but not a word about the 
ftate or intereft of his foul. His letter lay before me many 
weeks, before I found an inclination to anfwer it. At lafl. 
I could forbear no longer. I wrote to him on the 17th of 
lad month. Ke anfwered me about ten or eleven days af- 
ter. But O how was I tranfported with joy, to find that 
God had fet home the fearching queries and confiderations 
I had fent him, to the awakening and deep conviction of 
his confeience? How honeftly and nakedly does he lay be- 
fore me the temper and unufual workings of his foul ! He 
owns he hath no love to the duty of prayer, that he can 
omit it, and can go a whole day without any fenfible con- 
cern. He laments the fad ftate he is in, and feems to be 
in good earned: in his applications to the throne of grace, 
through a Redeemer, for deliverance from the body of fin 
and death. I have wrote to him a fecond time, and* 
he hath replied, and difcovers a fear, a jealoufy, left he is 
ftiil unconverted, but feems to be in good earned for fe- 
curing his immortal interests. May the Lord carry on 
and perfect the <*ood work he hath begun in his foul ! 



S-HlRJS»rMT 



CHERISHING SERIOUS IMPRESSIONS. I 89 



CHERISHING SERIOUS IMPRESSIONS. 

[In a letter to his fellow-traveller, mentioned the 24th io- 
ftant, Mr Williams fays,] 

Very dear Sir, December 30. 1748. 

Your letter hath filled me with the greatest cheerfulnefs. 
My foul rejoices and exults in your falvation. How many 
times, and with what tranfports of joy, have 1, on my bend- 
ed knees, been praifing and adoring the God and Father of 
our Lord Jefus Chrift for this grace vouchfafed to you, and 
particularly for making me the unworthy inftrument of it! 
The news hath reached heaven, and there hath been joy over 
you in the prefence of God; and fhall I not rejoice? — 
Perhaps, Sir, you fear that I triumph before the victory 5 
and I wonder not, if you do. I was encouraged to write 
to you in the manner I did, becaufe you freely acknow- 
ledged your fear?, that you was deftitute of the love of 
Chrift, which I had been defcribing. Had you jutlifled 
yourfelf, inftead of confefling your fears, it would have 
difcouraged me from writing; but your franknefs convin- 
ced me, that the Spirit of God had in forrie meafure opened 
your heart to receive an all-fufficient Saviour. — Our Lord 
fays, When the Comforter is come, he will reprove, or con- 
vince, the world of Jin, becaufe they believe not on me. Whence 
it is plain, that not believing in Chritl is the fin of the 
world. But perfons will continue in unbelief, till they are 
convinced of their need of a Saviour, and of his willing- 
nefs to fave them. And if their life and converfation are 
unblameable in the light of men, it is the hardeft thing in 
the world to fallen conviction on faeh. None but the 
Spirit of grace can do it. I remember, fome years ago, 
in converfation with two gentlemen of my acquaintance, 
One r which had been a notorious debauchee, the other 

a boafting 



190 CHERISHING SERIOUS IMPRESSIONS. 

a boafting pharifee, I laboured to convince them bott 
their Gnfulnefs, in order to lead them to Chrift. The 
former feemed to yield a little, but the other was too 
full of his own righteoufnefs to admit any conviction. 
Thus men love darknefs, love to be in the dark as to 
this important piece of felf-knowledge: they will not 
rait their hearts and lives to a ftricl and impartial ex- 
amination, for fear they mould be convicted. Their pride 
will not mffer them to think Jo ill of themfelves, as their 
ftate deferves, fo they boliter themfelves up to their 
everlafting undoing. — Faith and love always go toge- 
ther. In proportion as faith believes the promife, and 
relies upon the Saviour, love will certainly embrace 
him. Bat neither of them can find place in the heart 
that is not feniible of its need of Chrift. The invit- 
ing prernife is made only to fuch as labour and are 
heavy lac . giiilt end tardea of fin. II 

foal is brought to this, and is made feniible of its fin and 
danger, and of its utter inability to five itfelf, then the 
work is more than half done. When a man finds that he 
hath never loved God with all h and yet fees that 

he cannot be faved without fach a fupreme and predominant 
love to God, he is ready to look round about him for help, 
and is glad to accept of help from Chrift. At firfl he can 
fcarcely believe, when he hears jefus fiy, L::h unto me 7 
end be ye favsd: C . me unto me r and ysjballjtnd reft for 
fouls. But the more he tries to look unto Chrift, and 
come to him. and : him, the more ftrength he re- 

ceives from Chrift, and the more hope he entertains that 
Chriir, loved him, and gave himfelf for him, and therefore 
he cannot but love Chrift the more. How delightful is 
that love, when the heart and foul is drawn out aft*r 
Chrift ! — And have not you, my dear friend, felt fome- 
thing of the power of Chrift drawing out your defires a 
him ? Though, from a fenfe of your impotence, you cry, 

' When 



CHERISHING SERIOUS IMPRESSIONS. 19 I 

Where is my inclination ? Where is my will ? Yet have 
you not, in fome meafure, found his grace working in you, 
both to will and to do? Whence come all your com- 
plaints, if there is not a will to be as God would have you 
be, and to do what God would have you do ? Whence 
come fuch pious breathings, " O might this Holy Spirit 
11 dwell with me!" &c. Is not this a hopeful pledge, 
nay fruit of the Spirit ? Is he not producing in you a fpirit 
of grace and fupplication ? Is not this a fign of the new 
birth? I heard a pious old gentleman fay, about thirty 
years ago, " God hath no (till bom children." No, we 
came into the world crying, and fo we do into the new 
world, the world of grace. It was Chrift's remark con- 
cerning Paul's S:d change, Behold be prayeth, — But remem- 
ber, Sir, you have but juft drawn the fword againfl: your 
fpiritual enemies. Expect now to be vigoroufly, and per- 
haps inceiTantly attacked with new temptations. You have 
need to take unto yeu the whole armour of God, that you 
may be able to withftand in the evil day, and having done 
all, to fcand. If Satan finds he cannot keep you back any 
longer from flriving to enter in at the flrait gate, he will do 
all he can to hinder you, to diftrefs you, or to make you 
afhamed of the good ways of God. He hath a thoufand 
treacherous arts to beguile unftable fouls. Be continually 
on your guard. Watch and pray, that you enter not into 
.temptation. And under every new temptation fly to the 
Captain of your falvation, who is mighty, who hath van- 
quifhed all the hofts of hell, and referves them in everlaft- 
ing chains under darknefs unto the judgment of the great 
day, and who, having himfelf fufTered, being tempted, is 
able to fuccour them that are tempted. What a glorious 
privilege is this, that we have leave and encouragement to 
truft in him at all times ! I heartily commend you, and 
will commend you to bis bleffing and grace, who is able 
to build you up, to keep you from falling, to give you an 

inheritance 



I92 BOLDNESS AT THE THRONE OF GRACE. [1749. 

inheritance among all them which are fanctifled by faith 
that is in (Thrift Jefus, and to prefent you faultlefs before 
die prefence of his glory with exceeding joy. Write to 
me again foon. I fhall long to hear how you go on. Be 
not fahhlefs, but believing. Be aflured of the conftant 
prayers of, dear Sir, yours, &c. J. W. 

< SH>*®— — 

BOLDNESS AT THE THRONE OF GRACE. 

February 10. 1749. ^ think I have not met with a 
more humbling, felf-emptying thought, or a thought which 
hath pleafed me better, than in reading Herbert's poem, 
entitled, Gratefulness, where he is pleading with God, and 
fetching an argument from the many mercies God had al- 
ready bellowed upon him, to give him one thing more ; viz, 
a thankful heart, without which all his mercies would be* 
in a manner, loft upon him. He then adds, 

" But thou didfl reckon, when at fir ft 

" Thy word our hearts and hands did crave, 

il What it would come to, at the worft, 

M To fave. 



u Perpetual knockings at thy door, 
%% Tears fullying thy transparent rooms, 
<( Gift upon gift, much would have more, 

" And comes. - 

tt This notwithstanding, thou went'ft on, 

u And didfl: allow us all our noife, 

K Nay, thou haft made a figh and groan 

" Thy joys." 

What is there, that finful worms are prone to value them* 
felves upon, more than their prayers and penitential tears? 
la what a juft and pride-mortifying light hath this dev 

writer 



BOLDNESS AT THE THRONE OF GRACE. 193 

writer fet thefe very productions of ours, which, I fear, 
even many Proteftants are ready to look upon as almoft 
meritorious ! It is true, aiking, feeking, and knocking at 
mercy's door, is our duty ; Chrift hath commanded it, and 
hath annexed gracious promifes. B~jt in itfelf, what is it, 
that it fhould merit mercy at the hand of God ? Juft as 
much as a beggar's knocking, and crying loudly and im- 
portunately, at my door, for an alms ; and his perfifting, 
after I have relieved his prefent wants, to knock and beg 
frill more importunately for more and greater gifts ; and 
even refufing to give over, unlefs I give him, or at lead 
promife him, enough to maintain him as long as he lives.- 
Nay, there is lefs merit in my afking of God ; for God 
hath made me a debtor to the poor, whereas he owes me 
nothing. — Is not this a fair reprefentation of the cafe ? At 
firft, when a poor finner is made deeply fenfible of his 
loft condition, and how he (lands every moment expofed 
to divine vengeance, what would he give for a pardon ! 
He wants nothing elfe but a pardon. How glad would he 
be to be afiured he mall not fall under condemnation ! When 
he hath obtained this, nothing Icfs will ferve his turn than 
a title to a kingdom, and that not an earthly one ; no, he 
would not be contented with all the dominions of King 
George. Nothing fhort of the kingdom of heaven will 
fufRce his large defires. Well, when he hath cleared his 
title, and is allured he is, and mail be, a king and pried 
unto God, an heir of God, and a joint heir with Chrift ; 
then he begs to wear the royal robe of ChrifVs own pre- 
paring, and be clothed with the wedding garment, and be 
adorned with the moft brilliant jewels, even all the train 
of Chriftian graces, nor ever thinks himfelf fine enough. 
Nay, he is not content without gold tried in the fire, that 
he may be rich. And left this mould not be fuffieient, he 
infifts upon having bags which wax not old, a treafure in 
<die heavens that feileth not, where so thief approacheth, 

R neither 



194 BOLDNESS AT THE THRONE OF GRACE. Z 1 !^' 

neither moth corrupteth. In (hort, he alks for gift upon 
gift, and the more he receives, the more he covets, and 
therefore is perpetually knocking and cryiag at heaven's 
door. Nor is he at reft, unlefs he be brought every day, 
if it were poilible, every hour, into the prefence of the 
great King, and no lefs a perfonage than the King's Son 
muft introduce him, and be his Advocate. And while he 
is there, if he is not treated as a courtier, as the King's 
friend, he is quite difcouraged. But by all this, pray who 
is the gainer ? and wherein is the King benefited ? How 
aftonifhing is the Divine patience, which allows us all our 
great importunity! How rich the grace, which bids us 
pray without ceafing, and in every thing by prayer and 
Implication let our requefts be made known unto God 1 
This is the more wonderful, confidering in what a carelefs, 
and too often in a rude manner, we addrefs the Divine 
Majefty. Do we not approach the great God with lefs 
care and reverence, and more unprepared, than if we were 
going into the prefence of King George ? But is there any 
proportion, or comparifon, between a mortal man and the 
King eternal, immortal, invifible! 

O may I at the morning ray, * 
Begin with prayer the lifing day; 
In praifes bid my foul arife, 
And with the fun afcend the fides. 

As that proceeds, my zeal improve. 
And glow with ardour of thy loves 
Nor ceafe, but with the fetting fan 
My evening wormip be begun. 

And may the gloom of folemn night 
To facred thought my foul invite ; 
While day defcends, and planets rife, 
Afcend, my foul, above the fkies. 

Alcead 



SELF ABASED, AND CHR.IST EXALTED. I"g| 

Afcend, and tread the milky way, 
To thy grand palace, Lord of day j 
Thy courts admire, for favour fue, 
Or friendihip with my God renew. 

Great Lord of nature, O controu!, 
Subdue the rebel in my foul ; 
Thou, who canfr. dill the raging flood, 
Reftrain the tumults of my blood. 

With firmnefs teach me to fufiain 
Alluring joys, affaulting pain - r 
To pant for thee in each defire, 
Let grace foment the holy fire. 

Let hope afpire, and grafp the prize, 
Which in my Saviour's bofom lies, 
And fearlefs, at doomVday, beheld 
Thy book, that fatal bock, unfold. 

Then, wafted to the blifsful feat, 
From age to age my fong repeat, 
My God, my life, my Saviour fee, 
And dwell for ever, Lord, with thee* 

SELF ABASED, AND CHRIST EXALTED, 

[In a letter to the Rev. Mr Pearfall, he fays,3 

Dear Broth er> February 24. 1749* 

Your commendations do me hurt rather than good, 
Though I have determined, many years ago, that by grace 
afiifling me, 

Speak I of honours ? Thefe to God belong. 
Who honour me, a worm, my Maker wrong, 

R2 My. 



I96 SELF ABASED, AND CHRIST EXALTED, L l 7^9' 

My indignation all fuch honours raife, 
Unlefs through me to him afcend the praife. 
Man's commendation I nor feek nor love ; 
But will, when rendered me, for him improve. 

All this n ot wit hfbm ding, I do think commendation does, 
or hath a tendency to do me hurt. It pinions my mufe, 
cramps my invention, and enervates what genius my Maker 
hath given me. Meditations on Chrift, and communion 
with him, do me abundantly more good. I think there is 
nothing I covet more than daily communion with God in 
Chrift, and entire resignation to his will. There is nothing 
I defire more than, through divine grace, to be abk to fay, 

By a wife Providence Pm brought to this— 
Dead to all cfeatuies my affection is. 
To every joy and pleafure here below 
My heart hath giv'n the facrirking blow. 
Chriil 's kingdom to fupport, to ferve, maintain, 
This wifh was laft, and with reluctance (lain j 
Yet e'en to this now cheerful I refign — 
Ufelefs am I, or vile ? Thy will be mine. 
This one, this fole ambition I retain— 

may with me my jefus (till remain ! 
Dwell in my heart, do for me all I need ! 
On him to live, and ever on him feed 1 
Sufficient this. May but this bhfs abide, 

1 ihun not to be ftript of ail be fide. 

This end whiift I with ffudious care purfue, 
I'm led to Chriil: by motives not a few; 
And each new mean, my Saviour to addiefs, 
Infpires a joy no language can exprefs. 
However riches, learning, knowledge grow, 
Not all of thefe- could ere tranfport me fo. 

Being with Chriil funis up the heavenly flate 5 
And thus my foul does heav'n anticipate* 

By 



SELF ABASED, AND CHRIST EXALTED, l.gj 

By fwift believing thoughts on him employed, 
A heav'n on earth my foul hath oft enjoy'd ; 
Such light, and peace, and joy pofTefs the mind, 
'Tis heav'nly dawn, 'tis purity renVd. 

I to exprefslefs contemplation foar, 
Whilft Chrifr, God's word and wifdorn, I adore. 
Him, the creation's archetype, I fee, 
In whom exift, from all eternity, 
Original ideas infinite 

Of all his hands have form'd in worlds of light : 
Nor lefs his works in lower worlds declare ; 
The fubftance he, the creatures fhadows are. 
To pafs through death this reconciles my mind ; 
Sure, what I lofe below, in him to find. 
*Tis this to him directs my frequent flight; 
When fenfual joys afford a dear delight — 
I think — What richer fweets in him are found- 
More lading bleifings fliall in Chrift abound. 
And when ought choice, or lovely, is deny'd, 
In him fuch lofs is plenteoufly fupply'd. 

Terreftrial riches fuit not my defire j , 
Thefe I exert no labour to acquire ; 
Too mean I count them, to engage my care. 
Occafions to do good my riches are ; 
With all that helps to burnifh and refine 
My thinking pow'rs, and make them brighter mine* - 
Riches unknown in Jefus I pofTefs, 
And all my wants before his prefer ce ceafe. 

I have told you, brother, what would be, rather than 
what are, the real workings of my heart. Alas ! I fre- 
quently find myfelf immerfed in fenfe, immerfed in worldly 
cares, and attached to fenfual enjoyments and gratifications, 
But this thought helps to reconcile me to death, that as 
foon as I have clofed my eyes on all mortal fcenes, I fliall i 
R-3. be 



1$$ SACRAMENTAL MEDITATION. L l 74Q* 

be abfolutely free from all their attachments. Then mall 
my unpinioned fpirit fuliy afpire towards the centre of its 
fupreme wimes, and enter into joys, of which all my 
former fenfations afford me very low and imperfect ideas. 
I account it a fad and pitiable cafe, when the hearts of old 
people, for fuch you and I are, cleave to the duft, and 
endeavour to take a farter and farter hold of what they 
muft fo fpeedily and neceffarily be divorced from. It is 
more than time for fuch to be advifed by the late pious and 
ingenious Mr Reynolds, 

" Thus let it be our work and reft 
<e To learn the labours of the bled, 
" Loofen from clay, and upwards move, 
" As candidates for realms above. " 

May the approaches of death to us,, be rather defired than 
fhunned, be rather joyful than terrible, and may we be 
allured, that when it is come, we mall change our place, 

not our company, nor altogether our employment.- The 

Lord increafe your work amongfl: precious fouls, and your 
flrength in proportion. I dare not but pray for you, and 
hope you cannot omit praying for, your's, Sec. J. W. 

SACRAMENTAL MEDITATION. 

hordes day morning, March 5, 1 749. O my foul, 
whom art thou to fee, with whom art. thou to converfe 
this day? I am this day invited into the prefence of the 
King of kings, to a banquet he hath prepared for his 
friends, and for none but friends. To fuch, and to. 
fuch only, will he (hew. his face. To them he will unveil 
his beauties and glories ; while others- fee no form nor come- 
linefs in him. To fuch he will appear fairer than the chil- 
dren of men, infinitely defirabje : whilfi others fee no beauty 



SACRAMENTAL MEDITATION I 99 

in him, that they fhould defire him. Such (hall be entertain- 
ed and fed at his table with heavenly dainties, and he will 
give them to eat of hidden manna ; while others are put 
off with a mere morfel of bread. Such fliall be regaled 
with a full draught of the water of life, and have a tafte of 
that wine, which is ever new, which faints and angels a- 
bove, without any fear or danger of excefs, are for ever 
drinking in the celeftial paradife; whilft others (hall drink 
only of the juice, the adulterated juice of the grape. 
O with what fights is the eye of the* faith fed, and 
with what joys are their hearts fometimes made to 
overflow ! O my foul, am I a friend to this great 
King ? To fuch, he gives a fpiritual eye, that they 
may difcern fpiritual objects. To fuch, he gives a 
fpiritual appetite, that they may feaft on his dainties, 
which to carnal, fenfual appetites are infipid and unfa- 
voury. Such, he cleanfes from all their ftains, and brings 
them into his prefence, beautified with his beauty, clo- 
thed and adorned with his bell robe, and mod brilliant: 
jewels, even all the train of Chriftian graces. The robe 
they wear is of his own working. Their graces are 
wrought in them by his own Spirit. O my foul, haft thou 
bought of him eye-falve, and applied it, and is thy dim 
fight thereby cleared ? Doft thou hunger and third after 
righteoufnefs, and the bread and water of life ? Haft thou 
put on the wedding-garment ? Art thou clothed with hu- 
mility ? Art thou mean and vile, yea nothing in thy own 
eyes? Thou art very prone to pride; and who gave thee 
to fee thy own deformity, with thy. Lord's tranfcendent 
lovelinefs ? Thy appetite was keen after the hufks and 
trafn of this wildernefs ; who gave thee to reliih heavenly 
fruits ? Thou waft all over defiled, yea wallowing in filthi- 
nefs ; who hath cleanfed thee? Thou waft- covered with 
rags ; who hath fo richly clothed thee, and put upon thee 
beautiful ornaments! Oh that I could bye my Lord ia 

proportioa 



2CO SYMPATHY WITH THE AFFLICTID. [1749.. 

proportion to his lovelinefs, truft him in proportion to his 
power and falthfulnefs, and praife him according to his 
grace and bounty! 



-, ^o-€) 

SYMPATHY WITH THE AFFLICTED. 

[To the fame fitter- in lav/, as in May 4, 1747.] 

Dear Sister, May 17. 1749- 

Your pious letter opened the fluices of tendernefs, and 
fent me to my clofet. Indeed I do fympathize with you, 
and at the fame time rejoice over you. Doubt not, that 
our good God will either caufe this bitter cup to pafs from 
you, or put fuch ingredients into it, as (hall make it more 
than palatable. He is certainly too wife to miftake his 
children's interefl, and too good to neglect it. Though 
he caufe grief, yet will he have compaffion, according to 
the multitude of his mercies. Either the child mail yet 
recover, and then this return of the clouds after the rain 
is for the trial of your faith and refignation, that you may 
tafte a double fweetnefs in the mercy ; or elfe the Lord will 
give you what is far better, in lieu of what he takes away. 
It is my earned defire and prayer, that if he is pleafed to 
take away, he will ikf! give in fach an abundant fupply of 
the Spirit of jefus Chrift, that me may go off triumphant- 
ly, as her good aunt did, and fo recommend the ways of 
God, and particularly early piety, to all around her. — 
Dear fifter, I am glad to find you at the foot of mercy. 
There I have chofen to lie till my latefr. breath, nor do I 
defire a better place to all eternity. There lie ftill. I do 
not mean, there lie inactive, but there lie continually. L 
know no other frtuation fo fafe, fo peaceful, fo joyful* 
Whilft I lie at the divine footftool, fenfible I am nothing, 

and at the fame time fee myfelf complete in Chrift, I find 

nothing 



CLEARING UP A TITLE TO HEAVEN. 20 1 

nothing can harm me, no not afflictions, nor death itfelf. 
I am truly glad to find you laying yourfelf there, and all 
you have. BlefTed be God, who gave you this temper, 
this abfolute resignation. He is better to you therein 
than ten children could be. To his blefling and grace I 
commend you, and all your's, particularly the dear child. 
I am, &c. J. W. 

CLEARING UP A TITLE TO HEAVEN. 

[In a letter to the fame gentleman as December 30. 1748? 
Mr Williams fays, J 

Dear Sir, May 24. 1749. 

You fay nothing in your la ft letter of the (late of your 
foul. O my friend, one thing is needful, and that one 
thing mould be uppermoft. How is it with you? Are 
your hopes ftrong ? Are they well-grounded ? Have you a 
ftrong, a practical belief and perfuafion, that there is indeed 
a (late of perfect, everlafting bleffednefs : And if you have 
a firm belief that there is a heaven of everlafting reft with 
God and Chrift, with angels and faints, can you forbear 
contemplating it ? Can you forbear inquiring after your 
title to it ? Can you have eafe or peace in your mind, be- 
fore you know whether your everlafting portion will be 
there, or whether it will be in the blacknefs of darknefs 
for ever? If your title be clear, can you forbear meditating 
on that moft delightful of all fubjects ? — Suppofe you were a 
minor, and were to enter on the poffeilion of a large eltate 
when you came of age ; could you forbear thinking of it ? 
Would it not fill your mind ? At lead, would you not 
have fome pleafing thoughts of it every day? And is there 
any proportion, or comparifon, between ten thoufand a- 
year, and a marHon in the new Terufalem ? Suppofe your 

title 



202 SUCCESS IN PRAYING WITH A POOR MAN. f 1 74^ 

title were not quite fo clear as to exclude all doubt con- 
cerning it, would you not run and ride for evidences, and 
flick at no pains to clear it i Suppofe it were a free gift 
from the King, and you had the royal patent under his 
fign manual, how would you rejoice ! How highly would 
you efteem and extol ; how dearly love the royal Doner I 
Would you think any fervice too great, too difficult, which 
you could poflibly render? Apply ail this ferioufly, and 
impartially judge by the fruits of faith, whether you do 
indeed believe the heavenly reft. If your belief of it be 
weak and ineffectual, it is as good as none. O beware of 
that faith, which does not produce fuitable works. An 
unoperative faith is a dead faith. Let me beg of you to 
perufe attentively Mr Baxter's Saints everiafting Reft. I 
have read it over and over. Blame my judgment, if you 
do not find it one of the rooft foul-enriching books, next 
to the Bible, Brieve n:e to be, dear fir, your foul's weli- 

*&&* J. w. 

SUCCESS IN PRAYING WITH A POOR MAN. 

Friday, Junt 30. 1749. I have been converfing with 
one of my workmen concerning the (Tate of his foul, 
and find reafomto hope he is awakened, and brought un- 
der a fenfe of his finful, loft, undone flate, and his abfolute 
need of a Saviour. I afked him, how long he had been 
under a concern for his foul I I had the pleafure to hear 
him tell, that his deep concern for his foul began whilit 
I was praying with him and his wife, about three years 
ago, when they were fo diftrefTed by affliction in their own 
perfons and feveral of their children, and that this was the 
expreffion in particular which was fet home upon his con- 
fcience, and which, he fays, he fhall never forget ; u O 
66 thou who tookeft, or founded Manaffeh among the 

« thorns 



THE NOMIKAL CHRISTIAN. 203 

*< thorns, and when he was in affliction, he befought the 
" Lord his God, and humbled himfelf greatly before the 
" God of his fathers, and prayed unto him, and he was 
" entreated of him." He could not but think his cir- 
cumftances at that time might molt fitly be compared to 
thorns, and the thorns pricked his confcience. I remem- 
ber my heart was mightily drawn out in pity and compaf- 
{ion to them, and to him in particular, and likewife in 
very earned defires after his converfion. The minifter 
-called on him foon after, and prevailed with him to fet up 
family prayer. Bleffed be God, who hath in any meafure 
heard the voice of my-fupplication. May it appear, in his 
life and converfation, that convictions ba¥€ been followed 
with found and faving converfion ! 

THE NOMINAL CHRISTIAN". 

July 14. 1749. The other morning I was taking a fo- 
litary walk in a path I had never trod before. I ftopped 
a little to look into the river. The mo ft remarkable thing 
I obferved, was a number of water fpiders, a young fry, 
treading the furface of the water, rowing againft the ftream, 
in which they feemed to keep ftroke, rank and file, but 
dill continued juft where they were at firft. 1 ftood view- 
ing them fome minutes, and obferved, that though with re- 
peated ftrokes and inceiTant labour they were ftill Springing 
all forward, yet being borne gently down the (iream, they 
loft as much as they got, juft keeping their pofition and dis- 
tance from each other, not getting an inch of ground. In 
that fituation, for ought I could fee, they were likely to 
continue days and weeks to come, if net to the end of their 
exiftence, unlefs the rapidity of a flood mould bear them 
down, and force them to quit their ftations.— I was consi- 
dering to how little purpofe was all their labour and toil ; 

of 



204 DESIRING GOD ABOVE ALL. [ I 749. 

of what ufe could they be in the creation ; that, as God had 
made the earth, and all things in it, for the fei vice of man, 
and had made nothing in vain, for what ufe or intent hath 
he made thefe? Prefently a thought darted, which became 
a fubjecl of meditation to the end of my walk. See here, 
thought I, a lively emblem of a nominal Chriftian. He 
makes a profeflion, treads a circle of duty, and does many 
things, but ftill he is where he was. They come unto thee, 
faith the Lord to Ezekiel, as the people comcth, and they ft 
before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will 
not do them. They hear, they read, they pray; but for 
want of a principle of holinefs in their hearts, they cannot 
increafe with the increafe of God ; but after ten, twenty, 
thirty, forty years, are ftill where they were. But the path 
of the juft is as the mining light, that (liineth more and 
more unto the perfect day. Like as thefe tread the fur- 
face of the water, and never dive or bathe themfelves in it, 
fuch is the hypocrite with refpect to religion ; he only 
treads the furface of a religious duty or ordinance, and does 
every thing fuperficially. What a piteous cafe is it, to be 
labouring all our days, and lofe all our labour ! — What 
matter of thankfulnefs is here for thofe who have tailed 
that the Lord is gracious, and are carried up againft the 
dream of their corrupt affections, temptations, and carnal 
appetites, and are getting dill nearer and nearer to the 
Fountain 1 Surely fuch cannot be filent in his praifes, who 
hath loved them with an everlading love; therefore With 
loving kindnefs hath drawn them. 

r «©-©-©- 

DESIRING GOD ABOVE ALL. 

Saturday night, Augufl 12. 1749. I have been walking 
this evening, and as I went along, was begging God to give 
me a text, and a$ft my meditation. The words irnpreffed 

on 



SET TING THE LORD ALWAYS EEFGRE US. 2Cj 

on my mind were, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and 
there is none upon earth I defire befides thee. There is a 
God in heaven. He is my God. I have none in heaven, 
I have none on earth, comparable with him in my eiieem. 
Then as furely as God is in heaven, he will bring, he will 
receive me thither. My fkfh and my heart will fail, mud 
fail ; and let them fail, fince God is the ftrength of my 
heart and my portion for ever. This God is my God for 
ever and ever, and will be my guide even unto death. I 
have chofen him for my God and portion. But I mould 
never have chofen him, if he had not chofen me flrfr, and 
directed my choice. I mould never have loved him, if 
he had not firft loved me with everlafting love, and with 
loving-kindnefs drawn me. What (hall I render to the 
Lord for all his mercies toward me! 

SETTING THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE US. 

[In a letter to the fame gentleman as May 24. Mr Wil- 
liams fays,] 

Augujl 26. 1749. 
My mind hath been much imprefTed, every day, for a 
week pair, with that text, I have fet the Lord always before, 
we ; bccaufe he is at my right hand^ IJhall not be moved. It 
is a point of vail importance. I under/land by it, not on- 
ly a firm affent to, and hearty belief of, thofeWo attributes 
of God, his ommfcience and omniprefence; but likewife a 
practical confideraticn of them, or an actual applying them 
to the government of our lives. And we muft thus fet 
him before us, as the fjpreme, the mo ft holy, righteous, 
and the only lav/giver, and as a bountiful rewarder of the 
obedient, as well as a fevere and juft punifher of the dif- 
obedient. Not that we muft neceffarily think of God's 
onrnifcience and omniprefesce every moment of our lives, 
* S ari d 



2o6 SETTING THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE US. [^ I 749« 

and actually apply our belief of thefe to the minuted actions 
of our lives. No, but we ought to live under fuch an ha- 
bitual fenfe of them, as may influence the general courfe of 
our lives; more particularly, in times of great temptation, 
either from profpects of pleafure, or from difficulties and 
dangers ; as alfo in feafons of religious worfhip, whether 
public or private. In a time of profperity, health, liberty, 
and fulnefs, we mould make ufe of this as an antidote againft 
the poifonous fnares of fuch a date. In a time of adverfity 
this mould compofe our fpirits, and reconcile us to the Di- 
vine difpenfations, confidering that God allots no more af- 
flictions to his people than he fees to be good for them : 
and how bitter foever the cup is which he puts into their 
hards, it is of his own mixing. The advantages of thus 
fetting the Lord always before us are inexprefTible. It 
would give a check to the fird rifings of impure, unchafte 
defires, and inclinations to fraud, diihonedy, or covetouf- 
nefs. It would be a mod impenetrable ihield againd, and 
prefervation from, temptation. As Jofeph fuccefsfully ar- 
gued, How /ball I do this great -vjlckednefs, and Jin againjl 
God? And Nehemiah could fay, So did not /, becaufe cf 
$hefear cf the Lord. It would make us more watchful 
over our hearts and thoughts. Then do we keep our 
hearts diligently, and with all keeping, when we confider, 
that the eyes of the Lord are as a flame of fire, and that 
he fearcheth the thoughts and intents of the heart. It 
would be a good preparative for every religious duty, and 
would prevent didractions therein, as well as many carelefs 
neglects of duty. It would excite us to frequent ejacula- 
tory prayer ail the day long, which is an excellent means of 
increafing in holinefs. If we were in our nonage, and were 
in the prefence of our earthly father all day, we mould 
think of many things to fay to him, and afk of him. Set- 
ting the Lord always before us, would be a fharp fpur, and 
a quickening motive, to all holy actions. It would great- 



SETTING THE LORD ALWAYS BEFORE US. 20/ 

!y promote humility in our temper, and in our whole de- 
portment. We fliould be afhamed to give ourfelves proud 
airs in the prefence of King George ; how much more then 
in the prefence of the King of kings ! It would tend to 
make us fincere and upright in the whole courfe of our 
lives, as it would lead us to think, If I regard iniquity hi 
my heart, Jhall not God fearch this out? for he hnozveth the 
fecrets of the heart. It would tend to prevent, or cure, that 
extreme carefulnefs and folicitude we are fo prone to about 
the affairs of this life Aad finally, it would help us ta 
rely upon God in every (trait and exigeace in life, and at 
the hour of death. I have fet the Lord always before me, 
becaufe he is at my right hand, I (hall not be moved, 
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth, my 
flefh alfo (hall reft in hope. — I am perfuaded, that the great 
difference apparent in the general converfation of a good 
man and a mere nominal Chriftian, and like wife between a 
good man and himfelf at different times, may be traced up 
to this fource. As Mofes's face (hone, when he came 
down from the mounts where he had fo long and fo inti- 
mately converfed with God, fo whoever they be that fa 
the Lord always before them, it will be feen in their conver- 
fation. Happy they, who can fet the Lord before them, 
not only as their fupreme Lord and omnifcitnt J^cgz, but 
as their indu'gent Father, Friend, and Saviour. I am well 
fatisiied with your views in approaching the Lord's table, 
May you and I always make our approaches there with de- 
fires to fee Jefus. May he be known of us in breaking of 
bread; and may we never, fee his body reprefented as bro- 
ken, without broken hearts. May the cup of bleffing be to 
each of our fouls the communion of the blood of Chrift, 
I agree with you, that the table of the Lord ought not to 
be too feverely guarded. May all that are admitted there, 
have knowledge to difcern the Lord's body. May they 
all look upon the diltribution of the elements as an exhibit 

S 2 ticn 



2cS god's gift of his son. C i 749» 

ron of Chriit with all his benefits. May they all have 
faith to receive Chriil and to feed upon him. And may 
they all have unfeigned repentance, and fincere love to 

Chrift, fuch as are productive of new obedience The 

tea came fafe to hand, but it hath loll the elegant, flavour it 

had when we drank of it at ; owing, I fuppofe, to 

its conveyance in paper, which, being very porous, eafily 
admits effluvia from other gocds packed up with it, and 
emits effluvia from the tea. Such are the moral tenden- 
cies of evil communications among men, which nothing 
will prevent, like canifters for tea, but taking to us the 
whole armour of God. Had the tea been packed up with 
cloves, mace, and cinnamon, it would have been tinctured 
with thofe fweet fpices- So he that walks with wife men 
ihali be wife. He that converfes with heaven- born fouls, 
whofe converfation is in heaven, whofe treafure, and whofe 
hearts are there, will catch fome fparks from their holy fire; 
but evil communications corrupt good manners. I have 
put the tea into a canifter, and am told it will recover its 
original flavour again. So the pious foul, who hath re- 
ceived fome ill impremons from vicious or vain converfa- 
tion, will, by retiring from the world, by communing with 
his own heart, by heavenly meditation, and by fervent 
prayer, recover his fpiritual ardour. Have you not expe- 
rienced, in their turns, all the confequences I have men- 
tioned as proceeding from fuch like premifes?— ?I am, dear 
Sir, ycur's, &c. J. W. 

god's gift of his son. 

IVednefJay, September 6. 1 74,9. Come, O my foul, con- 
template the love of God in giving his own, his only Son, 
to be my Saviour. How could I have borne, how could 
I now bear to fee a child of mine dripped, fcourged-with 

uncommon 



uncommon leverity, before th oafcpd s of Ipe&ators, treat- 
ed with the utmoft fcorn, moil barbaroufly infulted, and 
then put upon the rack:' How could I bear to fee my 
daughter's joints diftended, her whole frame cpnyulied 
with pain, her eyes rolling in anguifh, and at lad fixing 
upon me with anxious looks, and to hear her cry out to 
me for help and pity ? How would every bowel roll within 
me, to fee her in fetch extremity cf pain, in the agonies of 
death, and find myfeif incapable of affording her any relief? 
But do I love any child of mine, as the bleiTed God loves 
his own, his onry-begotten Son ? And what are the fuf- 
ferings I have defcribed, to thofe of the Son of God! O 
the immeasurable love of God to a fmful world I He faw, 
he appointed the agony and bloody fwe at, thefcourges, the 
thorns, the nails, and the fpear, which his Son endured to 
redeem rebel-worms, to redeem them from hell, their de- 
ferved portion, and advance them to heaven, which they 
had not at all deferved. Can fuch love be fathomed? Can 
fuch grace be eftimated f what have finners to render to 
him for fuch love? Am I intercfted in this love? do I (hare, 
and mall I for ever fliare, in the fruits, the bleflings, the 
benefits of this redemption? And does not my foul fay. 
What Jball I render to the Lord? Bleffed Jefus, what (hall 
I render unto thee, who didft endure the crofs, and def- 
pife the fhame for the fake of worthlefs me ! And fhall 1 
not love thee? Shall I not praife thee? Shall I not live to 
thy glory ? Shall I not abfolutely devote myfeif, my all, 
to thee? Unto him that loved me, and warned me from my 
fins in hisjown blood, and hath made me a king and a prieil 
unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion-, 
for ever and ever. Amen. 



S 3 CHEERTUL- 



210 CHEERFUL VIEWS OF A FUTURE STATE. [1749. 

O— — 

CHEERFUL VIEWS OF A FUTURE STATE, 

November 7. 1749. While I was waiting for my break* 

fell in my inn at Beaconsfield, I obferved, on a pane of the 
parlour-window, the following lines; 

4i Diftrufl: and darkneft of a future (late 

" Make poor mankind fo fearful of their fate. 

" Death in itfelf is nothing; 'but we fear 

" To be, we know not what, we know not where-." 

I pitied die ingenious author. The lines were often re- 
rolved in my thoughts that day, and in the evening, being 
alone at Warlington, my reflections en them were fpun out 
in the following manner. 

At thy command I meekly yield 

My body to the duft; 
Jefus, I truft in thee alone, 

And know in whom I trull. 

Fix thou the time. The time is fist 

In the divine decree ; 
Call, when the time is fully come, 

And I will anfwer thee. 

My flefli and foul I give to thee 

In their united ftate : 
And is it more to trait thee, Lord*. 

With each,, when feparate? 

I claim thy promife, here below, 

To come and dwell with me; 
And why not truft the word that fays, 

" Where I am, thou malt be V 



Thy glorious angels flood prepared* 
Soon as the beggar died, 



his 



PROMOTING PIETY IN YOUTH. 211 

His parting fpirit to convey 
To faithful Abram's fide. 

In all my ways thofe morning (tars 

Have been my daily guard ; 
And will they not, when loos'd from clay, 

Direct me to my Lord ? 

Soon as pale death hath closM my eyes, 

Thofe radiant fons of light 
Are prefent to my mental view. 

O what a joyful fight ! 

They'll bear me up, in friendly hands,, 

To regions yet unknown, 
And, wafted o'er ethereal feas, 

Safe land me near thy throne. 

How glorious is thy gift of faith, 

That cheers the darkfome tomb, 
And through the damp of noifome grave 

Can ihed a rich perfume ! 

Precious the faith that lifts the foul 

Above defponding fear, 

Joyful in hope of heaven her home* 

And longing to be there. 

PROMOTING PIETY IN YOUTH. 

[In a letter to the Rev. Mr Pearfall, he fays,] 

Dear Brother,- December 20. 1749. 

My daughter *s fecond difappointment in the 

lofs of a fon, was to me a tender frroke. But, through 
grace, I hope never to be duTatisfied with any inftance 
of adwfity. It is the Lord; let him do with me, 



2!2 PROMOTING PIETY i\' YOUTH, C l 749« 

and with mine, as feemeth good in his light- The 
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blefTed be the 
name of the Lord. He hath given me himfelf to be my 
portion, and not any lofeable creature-enjoyments. Should 
he fee meet to take away my moft important relative, 
I hope, with Aaron, to hold my peace. One little in- 
cident let me mention to you. I croffed over to the ifle 

of , intending to return to the next day. 

A-horfe was lent me from to — — , but the 

veffd was gone off fooner than ufual. A butcher's ap- 
prentice, a youth about feventeen, was fent to bring back 
the horfe, whom I took up behind me, and returned 

to . Having a companion, I had a mind to 

make the beft I could of him, and do the bed 
I could for him. 1 began with the Ten Command- 
ments, "catechifing him, expounding them to him, and 
inculcating them upon him. He feemed to drink in 
knowledge, as the thirfty earth drinks in the rain ; few 
clearly the reafonablenefs of every command, and his an- 
fvvers moft humbly, and tenderly, and thankfully echoed 
to all I told him. When we were come to the laft mile, 
I thought it time to afk him, if he could fo carefully and 
punctually obferve all thefe commandments, as thereby to 
obtain heaven? He roundly anfwered, Ay, I hope fo. 
I then laboured to undeceive him, afTuring him, that no 
man, no, not the holieft and beft man upon earth, could 
do it. At this he feemed aftonifhed. I then, in the 
plaineft manner I could, fet before him the gofpel method 
of falvation by Jefus Chrift, and what a friend the Lord 
Jefus Chrift is to us fmners. The poor youth could not 
fufnciently exprefs his thankfulnefs ; told me often he had 
never heard fo jnuch before, and promifed me over and 
over to readf and pray, and follow every rule I prefcribed 
him, and when he had done all, truft in Jefus Chrift alone 
for falvation. I perfuaded him to apply himfelf to my 

foa- 



LUKE WAR MNISS LAMENTED. 2IJ 

ion- in- law, to whom I would fpeak on his behalf, to give 
him Baxter's Call, and other books. The lad feemed 
ravimed and amazed at what he had heard. I was highly 
delighted with my disappointment* and mould be glad to 
meet with fuch a one every day of my life, be the iflue 
what pleafes God. 

®-o® 

LUKEWARMNESS LAMENTED;, 

[In a letter to the feme gentleman as May 24. and 
Auguft 26. 1749, Mr Wiliiams fays,] 

Dear Sir, December, 23. 1 749. 

You exprefs fhame for your flow advances in the way 
of religion and duty, and for the coolnefs of your love 
and gratitude to your Creator and Redeemer, and of your 
zeal for their honour and intereft. It is well that you are 
fendble of your fhort-comings in thefe refpects. It is bet- 
ter dill, if you are filled with a humble, holy fhame on 
thefe accounts. I have reafon enough to take up the fame 
lamentation ; and fo, I believe, hath the mo ft eminent 
faint upon earth, in fom? degree. We none of us bear 
that love and gratitude to God and Chriit, or zeal for 
their honour and intereft, which our obligations thereto 
require and call for. But let us beware how we deceive 
ourfelves in a matter of infinite importance. It is a fad 
ftate to be lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. It is better, 
in our Saviour's judgment, to be cold, than neither cold 
nor hot. There is an abfolute need of a cure. How may 
this lukewarmnefs be cured ? The infallible recipe from 
the great Phyfician is this ; / counfel thee to buy of me gold 
tried in the fire, that thou mayeji he rich ; and white raiment, 
that thou mayeji be clothed, and that thejhams of thy naked' 
nefs dq not appear ; and anoint thine eyes with eye-fahe, that 

thou 



214 LtfKEWARMNESS LAMENTED. [*749« 

thou tnayejlfee. Wonderful condefcenfion ! He does not 
command us as a fovereign, but counfel us as a friend. 
Chrift will have none but a willing people. All his fol- 
diers muft be volunteers. What is this gold, but faith and 
holinefs ? What is the white raiment, but the righteoufnefs 
of the faints, with which it was granted, that the Lamb's 
wife mould be arrayed ? So that it was not a righteoufnefs 
of her own, but a granted, a given righteoufnefs, even the 
meritorious righteoufnefs cf Chrift imputed to her. What 
is this eyefaroe, but the illuminating influences of the Holy 
Spirit ? As for Chrift's counfel, that we fhould buy thefe. 
things of him, it refers to that prophetical and evangelical 
invitation, Ho, every one that thirjleth, come ye to the waters,, 
and he that hath no money , come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, 
buy wine and milk without money and without price. How 
is it poflible we fhould give our Saviour an adequate price 
for his heavenly blefiings ! No, his grace is free. Yet 
fomething is implied, in our buying them, and what can it 
be but humble, and obedient believing in him ? That is all 
the price we can poffibly give. Accordingly we find the, 
promife of eternal life fb often made to believing. He that 
believeth on the Son of God, hath everlajling life ; and he that 
believeth not, or difobeyeth, the Son, fhall not fee life. It 
is hard to believe, becaufe it is contrary to our natural 
pride, empties the creature, humbles the foul, and m^kvs 
us to fee ourfelves to be nothing, that the Lord alone may 
be exalted. To the renewed foul, it is eafy, yea delight- 
ful, fo to believe, as to lie at the feet of Jefus in low pro*, 
ftrafion, and there he will defire to lie in time and to all 
eternity. When he is thus abafed he is mo ft fafe. Thus 
may your foul profper. I am, dear Sir, your's, &c. 

J. W. 

INCULCATING 



INCULCATING RESIGNATION. 21' 



INCULCATING RESIGNATION. 

[To a daughter, encompaffed with family afflictions, 
Mr Williams, on a journey, wrote the following 
letter.] 

Mr bear Child, Camber 27. 1750. 

I am indeed grieved for you, and tenderly fympathize 
with you in the affliction our heavenly Father is again ex. 
crcifing you with. But how can we complain ? Yes, we 
may complain ; but let us not murmur. It is well, and 
it will be well. All things work together for good to 
them that love God. Who does not fee God's paternal 
tendernefs to you in delaying this vifitation fo long, whilii 
you was lefs able to bear it ? He is naw trying you, trying 
your hufband, trying me, and every one of us, whether 
we can truft in his hands a life he hath fo often made his 
care, a life he hath fo often refcued from the mod immi- 
nent danger. Do, my dear, give up your child to God, 
whofe he is, to deal with him how he pleafeth. Do it 
unrefervedly, and not by halves. Believe it reafonable, 
that God mould do what he will with his own. What: 
did you mean, what was the language of your heart, when 
you devoted him to the Father, the Son, and the Holy 
Ghoft, in baptifm, according to Ch rift's inftitution ? Did 
you not then acknowledge God's abfolute right to difpofe 
of him, as he mould fee fit ? And will you not abide by 
that furrender? This is the way to have him (pared. If 
there be any creature we, make an idol of, no wonder the 
Lord, if he hath a love for us, remove it out of the way, 
that he may have our whole heart. I fay not this to re- 
proach you ; no, nor to reprove you — far from it — but to 
quicken you, that you may be quite abfolute and unrefer- 
ved in your furrendsr of this dear child to the Lord. 

Though 



2i6 his wife's death* ^1750. 

Though he mould flay the child ; though he mould flay 
you ; ftill refolve, Yet will I trufl: in him. I have a cheer- 
ful hope the Lord will be entreated. And I would have 
you hope in his mercy. Affure yourfelf I mail not ceafe 
to pray for his life, but with all due resignation. Hath 
God, who fills heaven and earth, who inhabiteth eternity, 
made over himfelf to you, to be your portion, to be your 
God in covenant ? You cannot then withhold any thing 
from him. Is he your God? That is enough. He will 
guide you by his counfel, and afterwards receive you to 
glory. In the mean time, he will caufe all things to work 
together for your good. To his blefling I commend you, 
who am your fympathizing parent, J. W. 

his wife's death. 

December 7. 1 7 50. My dear wife was all the fummer 
in a bad ftate of health. I took her to Bath, where I at- 
tended her three weeks, but her recovering fome (Irength 
feemed to be remarkably owing to her journey home. At 
her defire, I fet out on the fouth journey in October: 
" For, (fays fhe), I apprehend this will be a lingering 
■^ i illnefs, and probably I may want your company more 
€i during the journey after Chriftmas than this." I re- 
ceived feveral favourable letters, but fhe departed Novem- 
ber 28. and the awful event was hid from me till the 5th 
inflant, when a fpecial meffenger met me, with whom I 
haftened home to pay the lad: fad office of love. From 
the grave we went directly to the meeting-houfe, where her 
funeral-fermon was on words of her own chufing, which fhe 
had often comfortably adopted: I know whom I have be- 
lieved \ and I am perfuaded that he is able to hep that which 
J have committed to him againjl that day. The minifter 
had been afking her fome queftions relating to the ftate 

and 



his wife's death. 2:7 

arid temper of her mind, and ilia let him know, ° The 
w tempter was retrained, that (he had a cheerful, itedraft 
11 hope in Chrift, and had not a doubt." She had enjoyed 
a more comfortable ftate cf mind in general the laft two 
fears, than perhaps any other two years of her life. In my 
journey, October 1748, fhe told me in one of her letters, 
" After you was gone, Hetty being married, and S 
u gone to be with her for a time, I feemed to myfelf as one 
" for:Grrf, bereft of all earthly friends. Upon this 1 was 
M very penfive; but recollecting myfelf, I retired to my clo- 
" let, and tried if I could not find an al'-fufficient friend 
" there. The Lord was pleafed to lift up the light of his 
M countenance upon me, and to afford me fuch fweet to- 
u kens of his pretence, that my foul rejoiced in the God 
Ci of my falvation. I had all things and abounded. I 
u was full, and hardly miffed your company." Before 
that, (he fometimes had her liftings up, and at others her 
caftings down ; but from that time, I thir. 
conftantly prevailed. Before, fhe was often complain 
to me, that although fhe had many irs every 

t, (he ccuid not get her mind to engage on fpiritualand 
divine fubjects. Afterward, it was otherwife in this re- 
fpecl, and many a morning, at my fir ft a me hath 

told me, with an air of devotion and thankfulnefs, how 
fweet her waking hours had been to her; and hath related 
to me fome particular pafiages of fcripture which baa been 
impreffed on her mind, and the bi 5 excited and 

drawn out thereby; and fometimes fhe hath mentioned 
her particular r; and tokens of the Divine favour. 

As -. and weaknefs increased, fo did her 

pati- 3 the will of God. Very re- 

ma: nefs for the care ta- 

ken of her. When I propofed and urged her going to Bath, 
die thought hcrfelf not worthy fo much ccft and pains, 
and A great thankfulnefs for every thing that was 

* T done 



2l8 PROSPERITY IN TRADE. L l 7 S l * 

done for her. Under the difcipline of the rod, fhe ripen- 
ed apace for a better world. Her path, like that of the 
juft, fhone more and more unto the perfect day. But it 
ftill hangs heavy on my fpirits, that I mould be abfent from 
her, when her diffolution approached. Bleffed be God, 
who did not then hide himfelf from her, but gave her 
living comforts in her dying moments. Farewell, thou 
cleared: partner of my heart. Lord, haften the time, when 
I fhall go to her, fince me mall not return to me! * 

PROSPERITY IN TRADE. 

Saturday night, April 13. 175 1. We have had flowing 
profperity in trade* Were my wife now alive, I mould 
tell her, with an air of pleafure, if not thankfulnefs, as I 
formerly have on like occaflons, of the bouaty of Provi- 
dence to us. But what is this, were it ten times more 
than it is, to her now ? She ufed to be very little moved, 
or elevated, by inftances of remarkable profperity while 
here. What is buying and felling, and getting gain to her 
now ? They are now nothing to her, nothing at all to the 
fpirits of juft men and women made perfect. And O how 
near do I (land to the verge of eternity! How Toon may 
my foul be launched into that boundlefs ocean, and then 
what will all thefe things be to me ! O my foul, blefs and 
adore, love and praife the bountiful Author of all thy mer- 
cies; but ufe this world which thou muft fhortly leave, as 
not abufing it, for the fafhion of this world paffeth away. 
My foul, fet thy affections on things above, things dura- 
ble, fubltantial, and fatisfactory. If my treafure be there, 
there let my heart be alfo. 

. THE 

* This ?vlrs Phoebe Williams was lifter to Mrs Howfeman o£ 
KicUlerminfter, who died October 31. 1735, and whole diary was 
Publilhed by their brother, the Rev* Mr Richard V 



THE RELIGIOUS TRADESMAN. £*§ 



THE RELIGIOUS TRADESMAN, 

ffn the following letter, Mr Williams cautions his friend 
to add devotion to his fiatiriftiing trade.] 

Dear Sir, September 3c. 175 1. 

I rejoice to hear of your prosperity. I truft God 13 
building you a houfe. May his candle mine on your head! 
May the fecret of God be upon your tabernacle ! I wife* 
above all things, that your foul may pfofper and be in health. 
An apoftle beffeches his friends to fufFer the word of ex- 
hortation, and I now befeech you to f offer a word of cau- 
tion. I well remember when it was with me as it is now 
with you in fome refpeels. I had a wife whom I dearly 
loved, delightful children, and a profperous trade. Thefe 
molt defirable enjoyments- proved a fnare to me. Riches 
increafed, and the love of riches increafed as fait. I made 
an idol of that ,which mould have enlarged my heart m 
gratitude to the bountiful Giver, and by my perverfenefs 
conftrained him, as it were, out of love to my foul, to de* 
prive me of that which might otherwife have defrroyed me. 
I have been fenfible how inordinately my heart went after 
my covetoufhefs, and that my fpiritual interests were in a 
declining (late; yea, I prayed agair.fr it often, and as 1 
thought ftrove againft it, yet dill it prevailed, till it pleafed 
God in great mercy to cad me into deep adverfity, and 
thereby give me a fenfible conviction what a poor portion 
money is, and how unfit a thing for me to fet my heart up- 
on. Yet adverfity itfelf would not have wrought fo effec- 
tually upon my heart, if he had not at the fame time given 
me a tafte of his love, and by that fpecirnen convinced me 

that he himfelf is an infinitely better portion. Now give 

me leave to afk you, at fcaft let me advife and periuade ytfu 
to afk yourfelf, how do matters ftand betwixt God and 

T z vpk 



220 THE RELIGIOUS TRADESMAN. Z l lS l * 

your foul, on the one hand, and betwixt the world and 
your foul, on the other? Excufe my freedom; I have no- 
thing in view but your good. Whofe intereft is uppermoft. 
in your heart? What are your firft thoughts in a morning, 
and your lafl thoughts at night ufually fixed upon ? Are 
your firft thoughts of God ?. Do you confecrate the ear- 
lieft hour to reading, meditation, and prayer ? Can you 
leave your bed the earlier, that you may redeem time to 
converfe with Chpilt ? How can you fay you love him, if 
you differ the world to rival him in your heart and affec- 
tion ; if you cannot fometimes watch with him one hour? 
Can you fay with divine Herbert, 

" I cannot ope mine eyes 
€i But thou art ready there to catch 
" My morning foul and facrifice : 
* { Then we muft needs for that day make a match." 

Or, are you pleafing yourfelf, early and late, with thinking, 
how much you fhali gain by this commodity, and how 
much by that? Juft fo it was with me. But if this be the 
cafe with you, expect to fmart for it, as I did. My dear 
and honoured father generally devoted the firft hour and 
half, or fometimes two hours, to religion. And 1 would 
advife every tradefman who fears God, who prizes com- 
munion with the Lord Jefus Chrift, conftantly to devote 
the firft hour, or half hour, at lead, to religious exercifes. 
The foul muft have its meals and repafts, as well as the bo- 
dy, or it will certainly be ia a languishing ftate. I do not 
much fear but you will take well this friendly caution and 
qounfel. The love of the world is downright idolatry. 
We cry out againft the Jews for felling the Lord of glory 
for money; but every covetous worldling plays the fame 
game ever again, and crucifies him afreih. Eut I hope 
better things of you, and things that accompany falvation, 
believe me to be, with great refpech dear Sir, your cordial 
friend and humble fervaat, J. W. 



COUNSEL AND COMFORT TO THE AFFLICTED. £21 



COUNSEL AND COM FORT TO THE AFFLICTED, 

£Mr Williams wrote the following letter to a niece of hls f • 
v/hofe marriage with a pious minuter was awfully pre- 
vented by his fudden death.] 

Mr dear Niece j Oieemhit 14. 1 75 r, 

I cannot exprefs what I have felt for you. The hea- 
vy tidings greatly furprifed and grieved me. What then 
muft your grief be! How deep your wound! How incu- 
rable! Do I fet it a bleeding afrefli? That thought adds 
to my grief. I would not add affliction to the afflicted. 
But how can it be avoided? Indeed a more pertinent quef- 
tion is, How can it be healed ; or, at leaft, the fmart there- 
of sffuaged? None but the Father of fpirits, the great Phy- 
fician, your covenant God, can do this.. He can ^<o if, 
and he will do it, in bis own time and way. But is there no- 
thing to be done on your part? I doubt not you have had 
better comforters, better advifers. I tiuft before this can 
reach you, you have in a good meafure learned to practifs 
the beft advice I can give you. Yet let me offer my ad- 
vice, which, I am very feniible, it is much eafier to give, 
than take. — Examples fpeak louder than- words. Remem»- 
her Aaron: When he faw two fons cut off by a fudden 
ftroke, yet becaufe it was the Lord's hand, Aaron held his 
peace. Remember Eli: When his two fons were to be 
cut off in a day, and in wrath, as a confequence of a Di- 
vine threatening for their fins ; yet, becaufe it was the - 
Lord, he patiently fubmits to the fentence. Above aLV. 
confider the Apoftle and High Prieft of our profeffion, 
Chrift Jefus, who, though he were a Son, yet learned he 
obedience, by the things which he fuffered. Now in the 
feafon of your fore trial, more efpecially look unto Jefus* 
cot only as your example, but as your helper, who, in that 



%ZZ HIS SECOND MARRIAGE. Z l 1S' z * 

he himfelf hath fufTered, being tempted, is able to fuccour 
them that are tempted. When it is faid, He is able \ more 
is implied than exprefTed. It certainly means, he is- as 
"willing to help, as he is able. — Many confiderations might 
be fuggefted, tending to bring your mind to entire refigna- 
tion ^ fome taken from the unerring providence of God ; 
others, from his unchangeable decrees. I might point out 
a variety of circumdances, which, had they been permitted, 
would have greatly aggravated the ftroke. I might in- 
ftance to you trials far more grievous, which others have 
borne, and are now bearing. But the belt advice I can 
recommend, as the neareft and fureft way to comfort, is, 
as I. before faid, to look unto Jefus. Through him direct 
your prayer, and look up. Truft in him with all your 
heart. Caft yourfelf upon his all-fufRciency. Plead your 
relation to a covenant God in Chrift, and in effect fay, 
" Lam thine,. Lord fave me, I am thine, Lord fupport 
"and comfort me. I am thine, Lord fanclify this awfui 
*' ftroke." Heaven is witnefs to my earneft cries for you^ 
m& tender fympathy. with you. Yours, &c. J. Wo 

HIS SECOND MARRIAGE. 

January 25, 1752. Four months ago I was obfervi hg$ 
that my children are all married, and, through the bleiTed; 
band of an indulgent Providence, well provided- for; that 
through the Divine bounty and goodnefs, I enjoy eafy cir* 
cumftaaces, and flowing profperity, without much worldly 
encumbrance; that my health feems firm, nor do my fpirits 
iag, or faih of their wonted alacrity; and" that a fuitable 
companion feems* more deferable to me, than a (ingle ftate. 
I then wanted to know what the mind of the Lord is, wiU 
•ing either to continue a widower, or to marry again, on.y 
h ihz Lord} which he fti&U pkafe to ckufe-fcr me.. N*\v 

the 



SACFxAMLKTAL MEDITATION 22J 

the Lord bath carried me through a wonderfd and delight- 
ful fcene, which I would not quickly forget. He hath gi- 
ven me a mod agreeable wife, for which I deilre daily to 
blefs his name. O may we be mutual helpers of each 
other's holinefs, faith, hope, love, and joy in the Lord! I 
was, as I thought, at a point whether to marry again or 
not, and refigned to the Divine will; but importunate in 
prayer, that if I were to marry again, God would give me 
one of his dear children, and he hath indeed granted my 
requeft. Blefled be his name, whofe providence fo nicely 
adjufted every circumftance of my journey to Biddeford, 
inclining me to go at the inftigation of my daughter, when 
I had laid afide the thought of going. BlelTed be his 
name, who fo exactly marked out all my fteps, and made 
my way plain and profperous, inclined her heart towards 
me, and formed her every way fuitable to my temper and 
wifhes. What mail I render to the Lord for all his bene- 
fits, and for this inftance of his bounty in particular? 

SACRAMENTAL MEDITATION. 

Saturday night, dpril 4. 1 752. Do this, fays our Lord* 
in remembrance of me. What am I to do? I am to ea*; 
bread and drink wine, believing thefe, when fet apart from 
a common- to this peculiar ufe, do reprefent the body and 
blood of Chrift. Infidels may laugh at this part of our 
holy religion; but lovers of Chrift, and believers in him r 
make great account of it. Certainly our Lord had a wife 
and kbd defign in- the instituting of it. O that I could 
fee into his heart, and not miftake his defign ! Come, ble£ 
fed and mod adorable Jefus, thou who haft endured the 
greatelT, the vile ft indignities and cruelties for the fake of 
finful men, and voluntarily fubmitted to the moft painful 
and ignominious death of the crofs, ia order to atone for 



224 S A C R A 1 1 £ S 7 A L M £ DI T AT : I [ I ' J 2 , 

fin, mew me wherefore thou haft inftituted thefe fc.cred me- 
mortals of thvfeif, and what (hare, what intereft I have 

therein, and what thou required of me. -lam to do this 

in remembrance of my Lord. I am to remember,- that the 
Son ol God, the Lord of glory, who is in the bofom of 
the Father, was made fleft, or afiumed the body prepared 
for him. O the grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that 
though he was rich, yet for our fakes he became poor, that 
we through his poverty might be rich ! Though in the form, 
of God, and though he thought it not robbery to be equal 
with Gad; ye: &e made hirnfeif of no reputation, and took 
upon him the form o£ a- -fen ifcf* Bat forafmuch as the 
children are partakers of flefh and blood, he alfo hirnfeif,.. 
who was to redeem ti. ./ife took part of the fame. 

For how could he ba*e come our fins on the tree, if he 
had not had a body.J Or hew could he have vanquimed him 
i had the power of death, that is, the devil, but by dy- 
ing and riling again from the dead, as the firit-fruits of 
them that ileep in death? I am to remember, that in this 
body he bore the wrath of God due to us for fin. O what 
horror and agony did his foal endure at Gethfemane 1 H- 
endured the utmoft contempt from thofe he came to fave, 
with all the torture which their hatred, fpite, and rage 
Could inflict upon ham. He gave his back to the fmiterv 
acd his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; he hid 
not his face from fhame and {pitting. O the companion 
and condelcefilon ofjefas ! But \vhii is all this to me? Yes, 
he was wounded for my traoigrefikms, he was bruifed for 
my iniquities, he bore my Gas in his own body on the tree, 
that by his firbes I ::■ i ; aad by his death S 

mipht live. 



THE 



IMPORTANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. 22$ 



THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY, 

[To a minider, Mr Williams wrote the following letter,] 

Dear SiR y ^prll 15. 1752. 

I am glad you are filled with fuch a fenfe of the vail 
importance of the work of a minider. I confefs, to me it 
appears the highefl and mod honourable, the harded and 
mod laborious, and at the fame time the mod awful and 
important office that is borne by any man upon earth. If 
a fcnator of Rome would not have matched his daughter 
with a king, no doubt he efteemed himfelf greater than that 
king. And is not an ambaflador from the King of kings 
greater than he ? To protect and defend the lives and li- 
berties of a whole kingdom or empire, is certainly a very 
high and honourable office ; but to be God's indrument in 
faving immortal fouls is far higher and more honourable. 
To be inverted with a commiflion from heaven, mud be the 
highed invediture. To preach the gofpel is an honour 
never put upon angels. If miniders are indeed ambaiTadors 
for Chrid, if they ferve Chrid, God will honour them, 
and men will honour them, and efteem them very highly 
in love for their work's fake ; but if they do not faithfully 
deliver their embafTy, notwithdanding their high dation in 
the church, they will be lightly edeemed. — Certainly every 
wife and faithful minider, who underdands his office, and 
fulfils his minidry, finds it to be a great as well as a good 
work. If he difcharges the fecret duties of the clofet and 
the dudy, and the private duties with his family and with 
his people, and the public duties of the pulpit; if he be in- 
dant in feafon, out of feafon ; no doubt he hath work e- 

noughfor every waking hour. -And what in the world can 

be a more awful and important work, than that, upon tb e 
feccefs or unfuccefsfulcefs of which depends the eternal fal- 

vatioa 



226 AN AFFLICTIVE ACCIDENT IMPROVED. ; C J 7 5 2 • 

vation or damnation of precious fouls ! " The eternal fal- 
" vation of one foul," (according to Dr Doddridge's fink- 
ing reflection), " is of greater importance than the tempo* 
" ral fal vation of a whole kingdom or empire for ten thou- 
u fand ages, or indeed any given duration of time. Be- 
n caufe there will come up a point in eternity, when that 
*'- one foul will have exifted as many ages as all the indivi- 
u duals in a kingdom, ranged in clofe fucceflion, will all 
€i together have exifted at that given period. Therefore 
" one foul is capable of a larger mare of happinefs or mi- 
" fery to an entiiefs eternity, than all the inhabitants of a 
*? whole kingdom are capable of in ten thoufand ages." 
How jufl is this i emark ! How agreeable to our nectffary 
notion of eternity ? And what an affecting idea does it give 
us of the importance of fal vation! Well might the ApofUe 
call hfo grecti fdhatidh. If. the falvation of thofe who hear 
the gofpel be pofiible, how mould every minifter, and in- 
deed how fhould every one who is faved and called with a 
holy calling, beflir themfelves, and ufe their utmoft endea- 
vours, agreeable to their feveral {rations, if by any means 
they might fave feme ? Surely we may learn this from our 
Lord's faying, It jhall be more tolerable for the land of So« 
dom, in the day of judgment, than for thefe who repented not 
under his own miniftry. I am, &c. J. W, 

AN AFFLICTIVE ACCIDENT IMPROVED. 

July 4. 1752. I would now review a fore difafter 7 , 
which a wife and gracious Providence appointed unto me. 
O that I might do it with a fuitable temper of mind ! On 
Lord's day evening, May 17. when my partner in trade 
had been gone but two days before ,on a fix weeks journey,, 
coming from meeting, I fell, and gave my ankle a terrible, 
itrain, felt exauirite pain, and was quite difabled from rl- 



AN AFFLICTIVE ACCIDENT IMPROVED. 227 

fing. I had much pain many days and nights. The part 
is now weak, and pofiibly may never recover former 
ilrength. Certainly this providence hath a voice, and it 
is the voice of God. Who would not liften, when God 
fpeaks, and be folicitous to und«ritand him ! He calls to 
confideration. In the day of adverfity, confider. He calls 
fco humiliation and forrow for fin- Jeremiah complains of 
God's ancient people, Thou hafi Jiricken them, but they have 
not grieved; thou haft confumed ihem> but they have refufed 
to receive correction. Is not this word, the word of the 
Lord to me, at lead: by way of caution and counfei, that I 
may not harden my heart, after the fame example of unbe- 
lief? I am therefore called to ferious, clofe examination, 
whether I have grieved when I was ftricken, and whether 
I have received, or refufed to receive correction ? Have I 
laid to heart this chaftifement I Have I received it as 
from the hand of God? Have I humbly inquired his will, 
what is the Lord's voice herein, what is the meaning of 
this rebuke f Have I been humbled under a fenfe of what 
I apprehend to be the procuring caufe ? Have I been fo 
humbled as to mortify my pride and vain-glory ? Hath it 
excited my thankfulnsfs for prefervaticn in long and vari- 
ous journies ? Hath it animated my faith in his power and 
care, and to pray for conftant prefervation ? Lord, help 
me to improve it as I ought. Shew me more and more 
thy kind defigns, thy defigns of grace in this humbling pro- 
vidence. Is it not especially that I may partake of thy 
hoiinefs ? Yes, this is the Lord's primary defign, in all his 
meffages of grace, and in all the rebukes of his rod. My 
fou'rs happinefs is bound up in my love and likeaefs to 
God. God would have me happy, and therefore holy. 
By nature I am unholy, and alas! by practice too. O what 
a precious treafure is the word of God, which holds forth 
cur recovery, as well as our ruin ! Do mankind know that 
&ch a treafure li$s in the Bible ? Then cerrainly they will 

make 



223 AH AFFLICTIVE ACCIDENT IMPROVED. [1752. 

make it their ftudy night and day. No, they will not. 
Though they know it contains the mind and will of God, 
both for their faith and practice, yet very few will be at 
the pains to ftudy it. Why will not mankind, who are 
reafonable creatures, and know they are dying creatures, 
attend diligently to thofe things which are of everlafting 
importance! It is owing to their unbelief. It is one thing 
to have a notional, and another to have a practical belief. 
// h appointed unto men once to die. Who queftions the 
truth of this ? Yet how few fufFer this word of God to 
have its due weight upon their own confcience ! Did men 
really believe it, would they neglect any means in their 
power to obtain the favour of their Judge, that, when they 
are judged, they may be acquitted ? How rarely hath it 
been known, that perfons imprifoned for capital offences 
neglect any means in their power, that they might be ac- 
quitted, when brought to their trial ! The reafon is, they 
believe the affize will come, and that they are to be acquit- 
ted or punifhed according to their final fentence. What 
reafon can be affigned, why men generally neglect the means 
of preparation for death and eternity! Certainly they have 
not a practical, heart affecting belief, that they mall die, 
and that their death may be near. .When they think at 
all about it, they have no doubt of its reality, but they look 
not upon it as near, nor do they fufFer their thoughts to 
dwell upon the fubject. As Dr Young fays, 

" , . Man thinks himfelf immortal. 

" All men think all men mortal but thernfeIves. M 

They put the. evil day far away. It pleafeth God there- 
fore fame times, in great mercy, to take his rod in hand, 
and by ficknefs, pain, or adverfity to bring men to ferious 
confideration. Some are quickened by the rod, others 
are more hardened. But certainly it is a great aggrava- 
tion of guilt, not to gritve when God ftrikes ; nor when 

he 



AN AFFLICTIVE ACCIDENT IMPROVED. 22Q 

he confumes, to receive correction. Grieve, for what I 
Not merely becaufe the Lord hath ftricken, or becaufe 
they are afflicted. He expeds them to grieve for that 
which hath been the procuring caufe of their chaftifement; 
and not only for fin in general, but for that particular ini- 
quity, which he would by this affliction bring to their re- 
membrance. When this is discovered, it muft be grieved 
for, repented of, and put away. He expeds us to put 
away the evil of cur doings from before his eyes, to ceafe 
to do evil, and learn to do well. Now, O my foul, the 
Lord hath ftricken me. Have I grieved? It was certain- 
ly his hand that caufed my foot to Aide ; otherwife one 
of my ftrength and activity might have walked fafe enough. 
He hath not indeed confumed me, but he hath in part 
confamed my (Irength. Have I received correction ? 
Mr Whately obferves, " We may read our fin in our pu- 
" nimment/' Few men, of my age, walk with fo much 
eafe, vigour, and activity. Hath not this been fuel to my 
?>ride? It is "fit I mould be taught by fenfible, fmarting ex« 
perience, to acknowledge the hand which alone gives 
(Irength, and can enfure fafety. If He gave it who hates 
pride, he gave it me not, to value myfelf upon it. Be 
grieved and humbled, O my foul, for every motion of 
pride. Lie humbled and abafed at his feet, and let the 
Lord alone be exalted. If he hath given ftrength and vi- 
gour, he hath alfo (hewed how eafiiy he can turn ftrength 
into weaknefs, vigour into languor. O let me be quickened 
in future to employ all my ftrength, vigour, and vivacity to 
his praife. Think well of him, O my foul, and of what he 
is doing to me, and let me love and praife him for this rebuke. 
When God fays, Ephrahn is joined to idols ^ let him alone; or 
when he fays, Whyfhouldye befirkken any more; ye will re- 
volt more and more ; how fad is the cafe of mch a people, or 
jperfon ! O my foul, blefs the Lord, who does not count 
me unworthy of correction. Let it be my felicitous care 
* U to 



23O SANCTIFIED AFFLICTIONS. L 1 ^^* 

to turn to him that fmites me. Let this affliction, pain, 
and weaknefs, warn me of that time (who knows how 
foon !) when I muft conflict with heavier afflictions, heart- 
finking preffures, and overwhelming pain. Let this con- 
finement to my houfe and chamber forewarn me of a long- 
er, clofer one. I know, O Lord, that thou wilt bring me 
to death, and to the houfe appointed for all living. Let 
my heart and foul fay to the grave, Thou art my body's 
long home : to ccrruption, Thou art my father : to the 
worm, Thou art my mother and my filer. Ere long, 
not one foot, one ankle, one leg only (hail be maimed and 
difabied, but every limb, every joint (hall iliffen in death, 
and every active power of my body be incapable of any 
action or motion at all. This goodly animal frame, which 
hath ferved fo many ufeful purpofes, mall not only be al- 
together ufelefs and unprofitable, but loathfome and gha(]> 
iv, a fpectacle of averfion and horror. My deareft friends, 
my children, and the wife of my bofom, when they have 
viewed it, will turn away from fuch an unfightly lump, and 
defire it may be buried out of their fight. Then (hail I be 
entirely cut off from the land of the living. 



SANCTIFIED AFFLICTIONS. 

[To a much afflicted daughter, Mr Williams wrote on a 
journey.] 

Mr dear Child, March 5. 1753. 

I h ear no harm of you; nay, 1 hear what is very- 
good; 'for a- friend of your's, and much more of mine, 
tells me. that ycu are much better. • This implies, that 
vou h a ve been much worfe ; and this I cannot hear with- 
out fome feeling of your griefs, though pad. The Pfalmift 
f^s 7 As a father pitkth his children, fo the Lord pltkth them 



SANCTIFIED AFFLICTIONS. 23 I 

thai fear him. It implies, that he who hath the heart of a 
father, cannot but pity his child under affliction. I can 
truly fay, fince i have been a father I have never wanted 
a tender concern for mine, nor for yourfelf in particular.— 
Nor is my pity for you unattended with an earned concern, 
that your afflictions may be productive of the choiceft mer- 
cies. An approved author fays, " Sanctified afflictions are 
" heavenly promotions. M You have had a large fhare of 
bcdily afflictions. Have they been fancliiied to you, fo as 
to increafe your humiliation under the mighty hand of God? 
Have they been the means by which you have been more 
crucified to the world, and the world to you ? Have tney 
made you pray more and better, with greater enlargement, 
and with more entire resignation to the divine will ? Thefe 
are fome of God's gracious ends in afflicting his children ; 
and thefe, I truft, have been anfwered in fome coniiderable 
degree, by the many great trials, though chiefly of a diffe- 
rent kind, which his wife and gracious providence, from 
time to time, hath feen meet to exercife me with. Often 
have I had jufi occafion to fing, with Mr Mafbn, 



O happy rod, 



" That brought me nearer to my God !" 

— Be not over and above felicitous for health and eafe, 
But you cannot be too folicitous for a fanctified' ufe and 
improvement of afflictions. Blejfed is the man whom thou 
chajletieft, Lord, and teacheji him out cf thy law. The 
bleflednefs does not flow merely from chafrenmg, but from 
the chaftenir.g as connected with the teaching. Under our 
chaftenings, therefore, may we never fail to feareh and 
inquire diligently, nor ever forget to pray that God would 
mew us wherefor he contendeth with us. My prayers 
(hall be for you, as well for the recovery of your healthy 
as the fanct-ifying of your afflictions. Ceafe not to pray for 
yourfelf, your hufband, your children, and iikewifefor your 
affectionate father, j-W. 



£J 2 SACRAMENTAL MEDITATION. C 1 753' 

»■ — Q 

SACRAMENTAL MEDITATION. 

Lord's day, July 8. i 753. O my foul, this k the laft 
Sabbath in which I am to join in public worftvn in our old 
meeting houfe ; to-morrow being the day fixed on for be- 
fjnnirj^ to take it down, in order to its being rebuilt on 
additional ground. This therefore is the laft feafon I am 
to have, of renewing my covenant with God, in the place 
where I have done it, in the fpace of forty-two years, 
uear five hundred times. Will this be my laft. covenanting 
feafon in the old meeting houfe ? And how do I know it 
will not be my laft upon earth, the laft before the houfe of 
this tabernacle fhali be diffoived ? DifTolved it mud be. 
// U appointed unto me once io die, I am now an old 
man, and if I were not, I am a mortal man. Blefled be 
God for a glorious hope of a blifsful immortality beyond 
the grave. O for tne quickening, humbling, cheering in- 
fluences of his good Spirit at this time, that whiht I am 
fe&ljng my covenant with the Lord, he may alfo feal his 
covenant with me, and to me ! May I be all reverence 
and fear in his prefence, all love and thankfulnefs to Jefusl 
O that in this laft gofpel-feafl in the old houfe, I may 
have a foretafte of that wine which is ever new in our 
Father's kingdom ! And may this be a day, and this a 
ieafon, much to be remembered in future time, and through 
a joyful eternity ! So be it. Amen, come Lord Jefjs I — 
[The fame evening I add,] Eleffed be God, the God of 
ordinances, this fhall not, I truft, be reckoned among my 
loft Sabbaths. He that was known of the brethren at 
Emmaus, made known himfelf alfo to me in the breaking 
of bread. Or ever I was aware, I was as the chariots of 
Ammiiiadib. Rejoice, O my foul, in the Lord always. 



SELF-EXAMINATION #33 



SELF- EXAMINATION. 

Saturday evening, December I. 1753. Come, O my foul, 
and iubmit to examination. Strictly furvey thy heart and 
thy ways. Speak, confcience, and fpeak impartially. I fhall 
be judged at another rate, by Him whofe eyes are as a flame 
of fire, who fearcheth the reins and the hearts of all. Ne- 
verthelefs, if my heart condemns me not, if mine be a duly 
enlightened confcience, I may have boldnefs towards God. 
Yea, I know he does not condemn me, for my confcience 
does not condemn me. I do not love him as I ought, yet 
he that knoweth all things, does furely know that I love 
him ; yea, that I Jove him fupremely, more than I love 
any thing q\Cq in the world. There is no creature upon 
earth I love as I do my-wife. Yet furely I love Chrift 
more than my wife, and love him the more for making her 
fo fuitable and agreeable to me, and fo ftudious to pleafe- 
me in all things, and to pleafe and oblige every one of my 
children. I love my children, and rejoice in all their 
profperity. But what is my wife, or what are my children 
to me, compared with Him, who hath loved me, and 
warned me from my fins in his own blood ! He hath given, 
me great worldly profperity, and is flill making it to grow 5, 
yet, through the riches of his grace, though earthly riches- 
increafe, hitherto I have not fet my heart upon them. 
I would rather live a life of communion with God, in utter 
poverty, than enjoy the greateft fulnefs of outward prof- 
perity without it. I would rather know, that God is my 
portion, and hath laved me with everlafting love, that 
Chrift is my beloved, and I am his, than have all this earth 
to be mine without fuch knowledge. I would rather 
endure abj eel: poverty, and together therewith, fcorn, re- 
proach, contempt, and perfecution, yea, to be hated of alt 
men, for the fake of Chrift, than be the greateft and mpft 
II 5 honourable 



£34 SELF-EXAMINATION.' C I 753» 

honourable man upon earth, without good evidences of the 
love of God. Certainly I rejoice in profperity, but I re- 
joice in it as the- gift of God, and as a means whereby 
I am rendered more capable of fupporting his inte-reft, and 
promoting his glory, to which I am daily devoting all 
I have, and all I am. I thought it my duty to give. Z. 150 
towards building a houfe for God. But I am amazed at 
the profufion of the Divine bounty fince I did that. I am 
fully perfuaded the Lord hath given me more fiace that 
fubfcription, than I ever gained by trading before in the 
fame number of months. This experience hath confirmed 
my refolution to contribute, according to my ability, what- 
ever his caufe may want. I blefs God, the heaping up of 
wealth is nothing in my efteem. The doing of good works,, 
whereby God may be glorified, and my neighbour edified, 
fo far as I know my own heart v is a thoufand times more 
to me, than to have it faid, 'when I am dead, He died 
worth fo much. — I love ray life. Every man loves his 
life. It is a principle implanted and rooted in our nature, 
I mutt ceafe to be a man, before I can ceafe to love my 
life. The father, of lies fpoke a, great truth, when he faid> 
Skin for Jkin^, yea, all that, a man hath will he give for his 
life, I can die but once, and that trial is not yet come. 
Am I willing to die, if God mould call me hence I, Could 
I cheerfully part with life and. all its comforts., now that 
I enjoy fich a fulnefs of profperity, and a vigorous contti- 
tution beyond moft of my years, for the fake of enjoy- 
ments that are out of fight, and can only be viewed by 
the eye ef faith ?; Indeed it is hard to fay, how I mail 
bear fuch a trial before it comes. But as I have often re- 
joiced in hope of the. glory of God,, and as I have no 
prefent doubt of the pardon of my fins, or- of my intereft 
in the blood of Chrift, fo the thoughts of death at prefent 
wear no terror. I would not live always. Methinks 
I have rather a defire, when Gad hath wrought all his 

work 



THANKS AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR. ^ 2J£ 

work in me, for me, and by me, to depart and to be with 
Chriftj which 1 firmly believe to be far better. Even fo. 
Amen, come Lord Jems. 

THANKS AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR, 

Monday night, December 31. 1753. A bountiful and 
indulgent Providence hath juft brought me to the clofe of 
this year. O what a year of mercies hath this been to me! 
What enjoyments am I bleffed with, both of a temporal 
and fpiritual natuie! Health of body, peace of mind, 
flowing profperity, a moft agreeable, dutiful, loving wife, 
a fuitable partner in trade, with whom I have gone on 
hitherto in perfect harmony, many other agreeable relations 
and friends, plenty of gofpel ordinances both public and 
private, hope in God, in his word, his promifes and cove- 
nant, hope of the glory of God, and fometimes the light 
of his countenance mining in upon my foul. Thefe are 
fome of the mercies I have to reflect upon, and the enjo}'- 
ments I have been favoured with in the lad year. Thefe 
have not been common to all, nor to all the dear children 
of God, many of whom have been fick and weak, or poor 
and indigent, or been forery perplexed in their affairs and 
worldly circum (lances, and many who have walked clofe I y 
with God, have neverthelefs walked in darknefs, and feen 
bo light of God's countenance. O may I abound in 
thankfulnefs and thankfgiving,. and always lie humble at 
the feet of the Lord Jefus. 



THE 



236 THE DUTIES OF A HUSBAND. L x 754" 



THE DUTIES OF A HUSBAND^ 

[To the gentleman who married Mr Williams's niece, men- 
tioned December 14. 1 75 1, he wrote the following let. 
ten] 

Dear Sir, January 17. 1754. 

Since it hath pleafed an all- wife Gcd, who guides with 
an unerring hand ail the mighty wheels of nature, provi- 
dence and grace, to bring you into a near affinity to me, 
as I have often congratulated myfelf on that account, and 
have often offered up my mod ardent fupplications for you 
and your fpoufe, that you may be indeed mutually helps 
meet, and always dear to each other, and that all the blef* 
fings of the everlafting covenant in conftant ftreams may 
flow down upon you both, fa now I congratulate you, Sir, 
upon this happy union, which is, I doubt not, an union 
not only of penons but of hearts. Since you have en- 
joyed great advantages, particularly under the miniftry of 

the late worthy Mr , as well as of your prefent 

paftor, it may feem the lefs neceflfary for me to offer any 
thing by way of advice. Nevertheiefs, as the duties of this 
new relation you are fo lately enteced into are many of them 
of a very tender and delicate nature, and feldom touched 
upon, much lefs fully handled in the pulpit; as God hath 
fo twilled our duty and happinefs together, that the latter 
is infeparable from the fdYmer: and as by more than thirty 
years cohabitation with my former and my prefent wife, 
you may iuppofe I have gained fame experience, over and 
above all the knowledge I have acquired by reading^or hear- 
ing, you will perhaps be pleafed, atleaft will take it in good 
part, if I freely offer a few hints. You will certainly 

find, Sir, that a!) your conjugal happinefs is bound up in 

love ; 



THE DUTIES OF A HUSBAND. 237 

love ; that there is a poffibility of burfting the bands of the 
moil endeared conjugal love, at lead for a time; that there 
is a pcfTibility a^fo of preferving thefe bands inviolate ; and 
therefore means mud be ufed to preferve them. All our 
happinefs both for time and eternity confifts in love, and 
is infeparable from it. Love to God in perfection, to- 
gether with the full communications of his love, is the hea- 
ven of heaven, And the more our hearts are going out in 
1 ive to God and Chrift in meditation, prayer, and praife, 
whiift here, and the more we are favoured with the tokens 
of his peculiar love, the more we enjoy of heaven upon 
earth. And as to outward enjoyments, what happinefs 
can we derive from meat or drink, that we do not reliih? 
or from employments, diversions, or company, that we do 
net love ? Nor is it, I think, fo much my wife's love to 
me, as mine to her, that tends to my conjugal happinefs ; 
at the fame time that I muft allow, there is a neceffity cf 
both to complete my happinefs. No doubt, if her love to 
me mould fail, mine to her would alfo languim. But cer- 
tainly it is my love to her that I feel, though a fenfe of her s 
to me enhances my reliih of it. And the way to perpetu- 
ate my relifh, is, never to let my love to her cool, nor to 

entertain an unkind thought of her. It is poffible this 

may be the cafe, at leaft for a time; nay, give me leave to 
fay, there is danger of it. It hath been the cafe in many 
good families, and may in your's. The more you are ap- 
prized of the danger, Sir, and the more you dread it, you 
will be the more upon your guard again ft it. You have a 
will of your own, and fo hath your wife. Thefe may not 
always be the fame in all things. What will you do, Sir, 
when fuch a cafe happens? I affure you, I would have 
you always keep your place. The hufhand is head of the 
wife, and it is her dutv to yield. But what if ine will not? 
or what if fhe cannot immediately do it ? muft I fly in a 
patHon, and violently bear 6t:^ all before me, becaufe 

I am 



23§ TH E DUTIES OT A HU3EASD. [ ! 7 J4« 

I am the flxonger of the two I is that the way to chc 
love? As God hath appointed roe to rule my houfe, fo he 
expels me to rule it v knds of wifdbom, and to be- 

have as one that is worthy to rule. Love is founded on 
efieem. But, By flying ia a paffion, I ftiew myweaknef^ 
which will neither raife me in her eiteem, nor tend to pre- 

ferve her love to me inviolate. Yet, I perfuade myfeif, 

there is a poffibility of preferring conjugal love inviolate. 
It hath been preferred by many Is and wives, who 

have never fuffejred any thing to interrupt it. They are 
generally final! matters ah- it rried people differ. 

Therefore a moderate degree of tbot fa might e 

prevent their differences* There is fo much pi-afure, 
fweetnefs, and ferenity of mind al the cornier.; 

exercife of love, and fo much pain, bitternefs, and difc 
quietude attending lrrife and difcor.. r re- 

lations, that the confideration thereof cannot fail to difrcie 
prudent perfons, and more especially fuch as fear God, to 
the exercife of much felf-denial, patience, and forbearance, 
yea, to much wa*:h:ulnefs and prayer, in order to fecure 

the former, and avoid the latter, Thefe, and fuch as 

thefe, I take to be the principal means of cheriihing love, 
and without which love can fcarcely be maintained in a 
fiouriniing Sate. To which give me leave, So, to add a 
few more hints. I would advife, that you be always as 
cautious cf faying or doing any thing to rjiipfeafe your 
wife, as you was before marriage. Efp-: you fee 

her rumen by the ill behaviour of fervants, which, 1 am 
afraid, will fometimes happen, or if by any other accident, 
then is the time to be more than ordinarily open your guard, 
that you fay nothing which would add to her vexation. 
So likewife, if your own mind is a: any time ruffled by 
the careleilhefs or frowardnefs of fervants, be more than 
ordinarily careful that your wife may feel no (hare of your 

of her difpole you to 



Lv:n 



meekueis 



THE DUTIES OF A WIFE. 2j9 

meeknefs and love. Indeed, the more you frame yourfelf 
to be habitually mild and fweet to all, the lefs liable you 
will be to have your temper ruffled by fadden incidents. — 
Above all, keep up the worfhip of God in your family, 
and in your clofet. Let nothing interrupt your daily courfe 
of devotion. To that end, make it a rule never to flay 
late from home, efpecially if your wife be not with you. 
Let her company be always dearer to you than any other 
company. I doubt not you will call fomc praying friends 
together, as foon as you conveniently can, after you are 
fettled in your own houfe, folernnly to recommend you 
both to the Divine blefling. If you will give me timely 
notice, I (hall endeavour to throw my mite into the trea- 
fury, which may on that occafion be laid up for you in 
heaven. That you may feek and find the kingdom of God, 
and the righteoufnefs thereof, and that ail other things may 
be added unto you, are the cordial wimes of, dear Sir, 
your, fee. J. W. 



-O>o~€>- 



THE DUTIES OF A WIFE. 

[To hi3 niece, on her marriage, Mr Williams wrote the 
following letter. See the articles dated December 14. 
1 75 1, and January 17. 1754-] 

Dear Cousin, January 18. 1754. 

The Lord hath done great things for you, whereof 
you are glad. I heartily congratulate you, for indeed I 
am glad alfo. Perhaps you, and I, and mine, are now in- 
heriting the prayers of your good grandfather Williams. 
And without all peradventure, you are inheriting the pro- 
miles. Exceeding great and precious are the promifes 
made to the feed of the righteous, (fuch, I am perfuaded, 
your parents were) \ and particularly the promife made ta 

thole 



*4Q THE DUTIES OF A WIFE. [ I 754« 

thofe who feek firft the kingdom of God, and the righte- 
oufnefs thereof. This promife, I truft, is your's, and a- 

bundantly fulfilled in you. The judgments of God 

are a great deep. How little did you, or any of your 
friends, underftand his awful difpenfatioa in removing the 

Rev. Mr — ■ ! Now you underftand a little more of 

it. How gracioufly hath he filled your mouth with laugh- 
ter, and your tongue with finging ! He hath turned your 
mourning into joy, he hath comforted you, and made you 
rejoice from your forrow ! Be glad in the Lord, and re- 
joice, ye righteous, and fhout for joy, all ye that are up- 
right in heart. — But while you confider the Pfalmill's ex- 
hortation as belonging to you, let me caution you to re- 
joice only in the Lord. My dear coufin, you are now 

as a city that is fet on a hill. Many eyes are upon you, 
and be fare of this, many will watch for your halting. 
Expect envy to moot her arrows, even bitter words, and 
every little miilake in your conduct to be magnified into a 
crime, and fome of your molt innocent, expreflions to be 
perverted into, or interpreted to mean, what is moft offen- 
five. It will be your wifdom, therefore, not to place too 
much of your happinefs in the commendation of fellow- 
mortals ; then will you be the lefs fenfib'e of their re- 
proaches. They are memorable lines in Addifon's Cato, 

" ? Tis not in mortals to command fuccefs ; 

" But we'll do more, Sempronius, we'll deferve it. ,, 

Think it enough to have deferred commendation, though 
you go without it. Solomon fays, A good man [hall be fa* 
tisfted from himfelf* So (hall a good woman. Draw your 
higheft happinefs from a confcious fenfe of the Divine ap- 
probation. Labour to commend yourfelf to every man's 
confcience in the fight of God; but if that cannot be done, 
reft fatisfied, that God will, in his own time, bring forth 
your righteoufnefs as the light, and your judgment as the 

noon-da v, 



LOS'GING DESIRES AFTER GOD. 24! 

noon-day. — By all means always keep on good terms with 
your huiband. Submit yourfelf to him, as unto the Lord. 
It is the duty of every wife : It is doubly yours. It had 
been your duty, had your fortune been ten times fuperior 
to his. You are now bound to it by the additional ties cf 
gratitude. Never difpute any point with him, nor go be- 
yond a mild and gentle perfuafion. It is no lefs your in* 
tereft than duty to pleafe him. It is the only way to fe- 
cure his love, and the fureft way to have your own will. 
Whilft he fees you make it your fludy to pleafe him, he 
never will think he can do too much to pleafe you. Pleafe 

him therefore in reafon, and out of reafon. Every man 

hath his foibles, and I have mine. We are apt to run into 
fome cr other little indigencies, or gratifications, cutoms, 
modes, and forms, which are not always fo pleafing to our 

wives, as to ourfelves. No doubt, you will find Mr » 

poffefied of feme of theft, and tenacious cf them. In fuch 
a cafe, be fure never to thwart him. If any thing mould 
appear imprudent in his conduct, you will think of fome 
gentle method to give him a view of it. But in whatever is 
perfectly innocent, never give him the leaft uneafinefs, nor (b 

much as with he would refrain from it. 1 wifh I could 

perfaade you to pray with him fometimes, in vour turn, as 
well as he with you. I know nothing you can do, which 
hath a more direct tendency to cheridi and maintain con- 
jugal love. Some other hints I might have added, but 
you need them not. What I have faid, I muft entreat 
you to believe, proceeds not from any fufpicion that you 
will behave otherwife, but from the abundant love of, dear 
coufin, your truly affectionate uncle, &c. J. W. 



-*e-eH$- 



LONCING DESIRES AFTER GOD. 
Saturday nigbt) March 9. 1754. Welcome the ap« 
preaching Sabbath I Come, O come, thou Lord of the 
* X Sabbath, 



2^2 LONGING DESIRES AFTER GOD. [ I 754» 

Sabbath, and take pofTeffion of a heart, which gladly 
empties itfelf of every care, of every vanity, to make 
room for fuch a glorious gueft, for fuch a gracious Lord ! 
What a day of cares and cumber hath this been ! What 
days and weeks of hurry and bufinefs have I had ! Thou 
knoweft, Lord, this is not what my foul chufes. Thou 
knoweft I do not love the world, nor the things of the 
world, but thou haft made it my duty for a feafon to be 
converfant in them, and bufied, and I muft fubmit. 
Other employment fiats my inclination better, and is far 
more delightful, more profitable. This foul of mine was 
never made for earth and earthly things ; (he can neither 
feed upon its dainties, nor wear its thick clay. I find no- 
thing here below that fuits my large defires, nothing that 
can fill them. Lord, nothing can do this, but a fenfe of 
thy love. It is not enough that thou loveft me, but I muft 
know it, and be able to fay with Paul, that Jefus Chrijl 
loved me, and gave himfelf for me. Thou knoweft, Lord, 
how I longed to have done with the world, before I could 
empty my hands of it this evening, that fo I might come 
to thee. My foul thirfted for me, and was in pain. My 
heart panted after thee, as the hart panteth after the water 
brooks. I would not have any company fo dear to me as 
thine,- or any converfation fo delightful to me as commu- 
nion with thy bleffed felf. One fmile of thine is better to 
me than thoufands of gold and filver, ten thoufand times 
dearer to me than the fmiles of any mortal, even of the 
wife of my bofom. She is not my God, is not my foul's 
felicity. She hath my heart, indeed, but only in fabordi- 
nation to thee. I truft I can fay, 

" Jefus hath all my powers poffeft, 
" My hopes, my fears, my joys ; 

" He, the dear fov'reign of my breaft, 
*' Shall ftill command my voice. " 
I defire to be wholly thine, and to look upon all I have as 

thine. 



LONGING DESIRES AFTER GOD. 243 

thine. I am not a proprietor, and I defire to be no pro- 
prietor of any thing below the fun, no, not of fo much 
as myfelf. I am not my own, for I am bought with 
a price. ■ O what a price I 



Though curious to compute, 



u Archangels fail'd to caft the mighty fum, 
" It's value, vaft, ungrafp'd by finite minds, 
" For ever hides and glows in the fupreme." 

Thou haft given me riches, but they are not mine. Thou 
haft entrufted me with much, but to thee I am accountable 
for all. I have confecrated, and am daily confecrating, 
my all to thee, whofe they are. Though riches increafe, 
let me not fet my heart upon them, and I truft, through 
grace, I do not. Let mc be rich in good works. Let 
me never withhold from thee whatever thou requireft of me. 
Let me believe thy word, and rely upon thy faithfulnefs. 
Of thine own, let me be always ready to give unto thee, not: 
grudgingly, but cheerfully ; for thou loveft a cheerful giver. 
And whatever I give to thy church, or thy poor, let me 
give to thee, let me do it as unto the Lord. Thou haft 
a right to take away the. riches thou haft enriched me with, 
and by a turn of thy hand th^u canft do it. How eafily 
canft thou turn my flowing profperity into deep adverfity I 
And how know I, whether thou wilt not do it. O my foul, 
how could I bear fuch a trial as this ! What if the Lord 
fhould, for the trial of my faith, and to get himfelf glory, 
fee meet to reduce me to poverty, to difgrace, to want, or 
fhut me up in a prifon ! Could I eye his hand therein, 
and juftify him in all ? Could I think fuch ways of the 
Lord to be mercy and truth to me ? Could I humble my- 
felf under his mighty hand ? Could I blefs the name of 
the Lord, when he takes away, as well as when he gave ? 
Could I enjoy adverfity, and myfelf therein, becaufe it is 
the Lord, and becaufe his will is done ? Could I tread 

X 2 the 



2^4 PARENTAL ANXIETY [l?^* 

the world beneath my feet, and take joyfully the lofs of all 
things, knowing that I have in heaven a better and more 
enduring fubftance ? Could I think it enough to be rich 
towards God, and fet myfelf the more to feek his prefence, 
to cultivate his favour, to live a life of devout meditation 
and communion with God, rejoicing in Chrift Jems, and 
rejoicing in hope of the glory of God : No. I can do 
none of thefe things ; yet I can do them all through 
Chrift flrengthening me. Let me but hear him fay, As thy 
day is, fa fball thy frergth be; Jet him but fried abroad his 
love in my heart by the Holy Ghofr, and by his witnefs 
feal my adoption ; then, in whatever irate, my foul fhail 
magnify the Lord, and my fpirit (hall rejoice in God mj 
Saviour. But without him I can do nothing. 

PARENTAL AVXIETY FOR DEPARTED INFANTS. 

March 18. 1754. I took a walk in the twilight of 
this evening in the church- yard, to converfe with the dead, 
As I was walking and mufing, I obferved a poor man, 
who formerly had been one ©f my fervants, with his eyes 
fixed upon four (hort graves, all in a row, near to my 
walk. When I came up to him, he defired to ailc me a 
q.ueftion. His queftion was this, Whether I thought the 
children of wicked parents, dying in their infancy, fufTered 
for the wickednefs of their parents ? In anfwer to which 
I only told him, that the Scripture fays, The unbelieving 
bit/band is fancl'fied by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is 
fanilijied by the hvjband; elfe wereyeur children unclean, but 
now are they holy. From whence it appears, that the piety 
of parents is fome way of advantage to their children. 
Immediately I purfued my walk. But when I came back 
to the place, he flopped me again, ar.d told me, he had 
four children lay buried there, and with an air of deep 

concern 



FOR DEPARTED INFANTS* 245 

concern repeated the former queftion, applying it to him- 
felf and his children, owning that he looked upon himfelf 
as a very wicked man, and was diftreiTed with fears left 
they mould fare the worfe for his wickednefs. I told him, 
that we know very little of the ftate of infants dying in 
infancy, fince the fcripture is almoft filent on that head $ 
and afked him, Why he was not rather concerned about 
the falvation of his own foul, fince the Scripture exprefsly 
fays, As I live, faith the Lord God, I have no pleafure in 
the death of the wicked, but thai the wicked turn from his 
way and Jive; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways ; for 
why will ye die ? Let the wicked forfake his way, and the 
unrighteous man his thoughts ; and let him return unto the 
Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for 
he wid alundantly pardon. I plyed. him with many more 
texts of the fame import, and again purfued my walk. 
Ke then left the place, and when in my third walk I had 
paffed bilfkly by him, I heard him running haftily after 
me. I therefore flopped, whilft he told me how often he 
had come up to look at the graves of his children, and the 
diftrefiing fears he had for them, acknowledging freely, 
that he had been much addicted to drunkennefs, and too 
often had been guilty of fwearing ; but, except thefe, he 
had not been chargeable with any grofs immorality, 
I then laboured to convince him, how poor a pretence 
it was, that he had not wronged any one, when he had 
withheld from God his Maker what was his due in num* 
berlefs inftances, fome of which I enumerated to him, 
and gave him the beft advice I could, and then again was 
parfuing my walk. At parting he faid, he was afhamed 
to prefume to walk along with me, and indeed I was not 
very willing to be interrupted, and fo I walked alone to 
the farther end of the church-yard ; but had many relent- 
ing thoughts toward the poor man. However, I paffed 
by him again ; and again he ran haftily after me. I then 
X 3 (topped* 



246 THE FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN MINISTER. [l7£4» 

flopped, and talked to him a while ; but it was too cold to 
ftand (till, fo I encouraged him to walk with me. Several 
times he wept, or feemed to weep. We walked and talked 
together, till it began to be dark. He accompanied me to my 
own door, and then feemed loth to part with me ; fo I took 
him in, and led him up to my chamber, where I made him 
fit down, and aiked him many clofe queflions, to which he 
replied in a penitential {train. I encouraged, cautioned, 
warned, inftrucled, and exhorted him, and at his requeit 
prayed with him, inviting him to come to me again. He 
went away very thankful, and feemingly penitent. Yet 
I cannot but fear he will return to his drunken companions, 
which he owns have heretofore extinguifhed many good im- 
preffions and inclinations. And yet, who knows ? I have 
the fatisfaclion, however, of having ufed, and of purpofing 
farther to ufe, my poor feeble endeavours to recover and 
fave a foul from death, and hide a multitude of fins* 
Help me, help me, O my God. 

THE FAITHFUL CHRISTIAN MINISTER* 
[To the Rev. Mr Darracott.] 

Dear Sir, March i&. 1754. 

In reading your^s,. I cannot but obferve, what a plea* 
Cure it is to feel fymptoms of approaching death, and yet 
alfo a glimpfe of glory. Who would not have endured 
your fainting fweats, for the fake of having,, at the fame 
time, the bofom of Jefus to lean upon, and the love of God 
to be fhed abroad in our heart? I congratulate you, my 
dear friend, upon fuch a rich and renewed experience 
of the certainty of your title to manfions in the feies, and 
fuch a pledge of the prefence of your Shepherd with you, 
^hen you mall indeed pafs through the valley of the (hadow 

of 



THE 7 AITHFUL CHRISTIAN MINISTER* 247 

of death. I congratulate you upon the comfortable prof- 
peel your fpiritual fpoufe, a church of the living God, af- 
fords you. I confider under-fhepherds-as bridegrooms to 
their particular churches. I therefore think, fuch fliould 
be very folic! tous to difcharge well the extenGve duties of 
a good hufband and parent. You do right in making per- 
fonal addreffes to each of your flock, and praying with 
each. I wonder not that you have always found fuch work 
attended with great pleafure, which it could hardly be with- 
out fome fuccefs. I wonder how any fpiritual father can 
content himfeif in the neglect of it, if he hath ability and 
opportunity. How can he be a good hufband, who does 
not love his fpoufe? And how can he love her, if he does 
not love her children? And how does he fufficiently {how 
his love to thofe children, with whom he never converfes, 
or into whofe {rate he never inquires! What an awful 
view does this give of the work of Chrid's ministers? — I 

heard a mofk excellent fermon at from the Rev» 

Mr , and now I will tell you fomething I had from 

him in converfaticn. The iirft time he was to preach as 
one of the Prebends, he was well apprized that among his 
hearers would be the Bifhop and feveral Doctors. He 
found carnal felf began to plead for moderation, at the 
fame time that the new man earneftly pleaded for zeal. 
The former cried, " What occafion have you to run the 

rifk of difpleafing thefe great men,, and making them your 
" enemies? You may preach [o 9 as not to contradict the 
* gofpel, nor their tenets, and why mould you not become 
" all things to all men? Give them a moral difcourfe, 
" and it will fufEce. But if you advance the peculiar 
M doctrines of the gofpel, you will make yourfelf the ob- 
u ject of their difpleafure, perhaps of their contempt and 
44 ridicule. You know not what the conference may 

be." The latter pleaded thus: " Away with thefe 
u fhviih fears of man. One is your mafter, even Chrifh 

« If 



u 



IC 



243 THE FAITKKUL CHRISTIAN MINISTER. C J 754* 

" If you yet pleafe men, how are you the fervant of Chrid? 
" Will you dare to be afhamed of the gofpel of Chrid? 
<< Will not he then be afhamed of you, when his favour and 
11 applaufe will be more to you than all the world ? Do not 
" confult with fiefh and blood. Preach now, as if you 
" were fare this will be the lad fermon you ever mail 
" preach. How do you know but fome one precious foul, 
" at lead, may be awakened to cry out, What mud I do 
" to be faved? Wo is unto you, if you preach not the gof- 
" pel of Chrid." To this, carnal felf again replied, and 
the new man rejoined. The difpute laded many days, 
and each of the contending parties provided itfelf with a 
fermon, nor was he determined, when going to preach, 
which of them had the afcendency- He took both fer- 
mons with him into the pulpit, and there was earned with 
God to direct him. He hoped that his prayer was heard 
and anfwered, becaufe he felt an undaunted courage and 
refolution ; fo that after his public prayer he was enabled 
to fpeak boldly in the name of the Lord Jefus. When he 
was drawing near the conclufion, a woman not far from 
the pulpit cried out, " I cannot bear it. I cannot bear it." 
He was at a lofs, at prefent, what could be the meaning 
of fuch a cry ; for he was not thundering out the terrors of 
the law, but blowing the filver trumpet of the gofpel, and 
difplaying the bleffednefs of thofe who win Chrid, and 
are fouud in him. He afterwards underdood, that the 
woman had been labouring and heavy laden, and had then 
found red in Chrid, but that the overflowing of her joy in 
the Lord had extorted from her that outcry. On the 
whole, he was refolved to perfevere. in fuch a drain of 
preaching. He alfo added, that having, in that indance, 
obtained the victory over the flavifh fear of man, the fame 

Divine grace enabled him to maintain it ever fince. 

How little reafon have thofe who truft in the Lord to be 
afraid of a man that mall die, and of the fon of man that 
(hall be made as grafs! I am your's, . J. W. 



DOUBTFUL WAYS COMMITTED TO GOD. 2^$ 



DOUBTFUL WAYS COMMITTED TO GOD. 

Lord's day morning, March 24, 1754. Hail facred 
morning ! O that my life were one eternal Sabbath ! I truft 
it will be fo ere long. But what I am to do, and what I 
am to bear, in the mean time, God only knows. And 
well he knows; for nothing (hall befal me, but what is of 
his fpecial ordering and appointing. This thought fa tisfies 
me as to all future events and contingencies. A fparrow 
falls not to the ground without him. He numbers the 
hairs of my head. How fecurely may I truft myfelf ia 
his hands, whilft I keep in his way ! How folicitous 
fhould 1 be to keep in his way, and not like Jonah, defert 
the way prefcribed for me ! Shall I keep in his way in 
the journey I have before me ? Have I his call to under- 
take it ? I truft I have. He knows what temptations I 
fhall be expofed to, and how to deliver me out of them. 
May his glory be uppermoft in my heart, my aims, and my 
endeavours aU the way ! Lord, give me wifdom, give me 
courage, give me from time to time what I fhall fpeak. 
Let me fpeak for thee. Whilft I have a tongue to ufe, Jet 
me ufe it for thee. By my fpeech, by my whole conduel, 
let me not difparage, but recommend thy good ways. Let 
my temper be cheerful, but not light and vain ; grave, but 
not morofe or churlifh. What if I mould [in the coach] 
be confined to company, among whom is a profane fwearer, 
or one of a filthy converfation, and impudent therein ! 
How fhould I treat fuch a one ? What if any is a fcoffer 
at religion and religious perfons ? The Lord give me wif- 
dom, meeknefs of wifdom, that I may not exafperate 
fuch, but win them by my converfation. Sinful anger is 
too apt to rife in fuch cafes ; may it be totally fuppreffed. 
Pious indignation out of a refpect to the glory of God, is 
a better temper, and even that is too apt to degenerate into 

fmful 



2jO PROMOTING PIETY IN C J 754« 

finful anger, flaming out from a regard to felf. Let fuch cor- 
rupt converfation always excite in me a holy zeal for the glory 
of God, an abhorrence of the fin, and a religious care that I 
be not partaker therein; and therefore let thefe be always 
mingled with tender pity for the finner, and with thankful- 

nefs for diftinguifhing grace to myfelf. Lord, I would 

be where thou wouldft have me to be, and no where elfe. 
Let me not go hence, if thy prefence go not with me. 
Lead thou the way, and I will follow where my Father 
leads. How fnall I fpend fo many days and weeks, 
agreeably to myfeif and thee, where I can be fo little 
alone ? 

"In fecret filence of the mind, 

" My heaven, and there my God, I find." 

Oh ! Let me do or fay nothing whereby thou may eft be 
difhonoured, and thy good ways difcreditecL Into thine 
hand I commit my fpirit ; for thou haft redeemed me, O 
Lord God of truth. 

PROMOTING PIETY IN A YOUNG CLERGYMAN. 

Lord's day. December 29. 1754- • Quite unexpectedly 
it hath fallen to my lot to ride the fouth circuit. What a 
journey of mercies hath this been ! I faw- nothing but 
goodnefs and mercy following, and going before me, all 
the way. The Lord was pleafed to engage me in a re- 
markable piece of fervice at — -, which indeed was 

the moft memorable event this journey hath produced. 
On Monday, the 1 8th part, I vifited a friend, who intro- 
duced me to the company of his genteel and pious vifitors, 
and we had almoft an hour's very agreeable converfation. 
Juft as the company was breaking up, came in a young 
curate. My friend whifpered me in the ear, " Go, fpeak 



e 



A YOUNG CLERGYMAN. 25 I 

" to him." I was at firft backward, but, at his repeated 
irrigation, I faluted him, and entered into ferious talk 
with him. It pleafed God to make fomething which I 
dropped, the arrow of his conviction. I fa w him no more 
that night. Next morning he fent for me, juft as I was 
going to take horfe. and told me, that our converfation the 
preceding evening had given him a great deal of concern ', 
that it had put him upon confidering the ftate of his foul 
more than ever before, that he feared it was bad, and 
therefore defired my company for a few minutes. My 
(pints' hereby were elevated, efpecially when on my blef- 
fing God, and rejoicing in hope this was the beginning of 
a good work in his foul, I faw the tears immediately ftart 
from his eyes- I talked with him a good while as the 
Lord enabled me, and then faid, Come, do not let us 
part without prayer. Another clergyman happened to 
come in, and being of an excellent character, I would have 
put the office of prayer on him, but he declined it, and 
they both defired me to pray. So we kneeled down all 
three together, and the Lord poured out a fpirit of grace 
and fupplication. I could hear the young clergyman figh 
and fob frequently, which did not at all abate the fervour, 
or blunt the edge of my devotion. When we arofe up, 
he appeared bathed in tears, thanked me moft heartily, 
begged the continuation of my prayers, and that I would 
write to him. The other clergyman took notice, by what 
a particular providence he had been brought thither that 
day, which had detained his brother at home, who other- 
wife had intended to go abroad the preceding day. And 
I could not but remark how I had been preffed in fpirit to 
ride feven miles in a ftcrm'y evening, by a. feeble moon- 
light, to reach — when I did. I took the firft 

opportunity to write to this gentleman, as he defired, and 
gave him the belt inftruclions I could, and particularly 
perfuaded him to bind himfelf by covenant to be the 

Lord's, 



2J2 PROMOTING PIETY, &C. [ I 754* 

Lord's, to write down his refolutions and felf-dedi cation, 
and fign it with his hand ; and begged of him to write to 
me at London on a given day, and freely to open his heart 
to me. Accordingly, I received from him an epiftle, 
dated the nth in flan t, which revived my foul. The ar- 
row feems to flick faft, and he had done (but not before 
that morning) as I had advifed and perfuaded him. It 
mould feem, indeed, that nothing but the balm of Gilead 
will heal the wound. It was an arrow from a bow drawn 
at a venture, but an unerring, all-powerful hand carried it 
to the mark. The arm of the Lord was revealed. Glo- 
rious grace ! which could make fo feeble an effort effectual 
to fo glorious a purpofe. To his name be all the praife. 
Let me not dare to afcribe the lead part of the praife to 
the intention or endeavours of a worthlefs worm. Yet I 
may, I muft rejoice. Heaven rejoices, and fo will I. 

Halklujah ! Surely here is fatisfying evidence of the 

workings of the 'Spirit of adoption. What joy hath it af- 
forded me ? And the more, becaufe it feems an anfwer to 
prayer, when I called together fome praying friends a few 
days before I fet out on that journey. 1 remember my 
heart was drawn out in this particular requeft, that God 
would blefs my converfation in that journey, and enable me 
to fpeak for him, and make it effectual to fome valuable 
purpofes. I was reading, the other morning, an abftract 
of the life of the Rev. Mr Stock, in Gillies's Collections, 
where I noted with joy this paffage: " It is no fmall ho- 
" nour for a man to win, if it were but one foul. For to 
" win fouls, is to win more than the whole world is worth. 
*' What an honour is it then, to be not only a winner of 
" fouls, but a. winner of fuch as prove winners !" I eileem 
this important event an inilance of the greateit. honour the 
Lord ever did me, or perhaps ever will in this life. But 
as an excellent preacher obferved in my hearing, after 
enumerating a variety of methods the Lord ordinarily 

ufeth 



\ 

RD'S TABLE. 253 

d :lf, c: Any thing 
ben tie L ks- ,J To his infinite power and 

fe. Let me opt dare to arro- 
. the lead Qiarc thereof. But as at fid 

lit, when I faw this gentleman's 

re, io his letters fince ha? bated to fulfil my joy. 

This was well worth all the expence and fatigue of the 

.'-, had I no faccefs in my fecular affairs. I 

Lord pre fe alio far beyond my ex- 

n, and indeed beyond what I have experienced In 

re. To his great name be ah the 

t hereof *. 



HAPPY TEMPER. AT THE LORD S TABLE. 

Lord pm'mgi January 5. i"5'. O what fV;e : 

moments have I had at the table of the Lord this day ! 
Of i and made me to know it. How 

rann my heart ! How did my heart bun 
me 1 Sue not enjoyed,. I think, fince the 

memorable Auguft 26. 17-4- and November 3. 1745. 
Adored ; of the feaft, for this token 



whole 



jndence between Mi V- 
j tept up I01 ag the lit! fer of Mi 

. : ife been piutra&ed 10 a 
t ici :orrefpOD<icnre ivould no loabt have 
. continued 7:: evei fince Mi WiU uns 

te bighefi efteem foi his memory. 12 the happy 
irfr: new and limine life. And ::. the feveral pa- 

bat . Enee :alled him :: :\:;::.e his rni- 
nift: : piefent .: given abun- 

dant jf'perfeveiing piety, '-:.i if tifuweXs Is 

the fc to him, 1 - ~ * 



254 MEDITATION AMONG THE TOMBS. L l lSS' 

whole admin iftration. His name is as ointment pour? I 
forth. He mail be to me as a bundle of myrrh. 

" For ever his dear facred name 

" Shall dwell upon my tongue, 
i( And Jefus and falvation be 

4i The clofe of every long." 

^--0-€> — — 

MEDITATION AMONG THE TOMBS. 

*T uef day morning, March $. 1755. Walking this : 
lng in the church-yard, I have been confidering the days 
bf my youth, and particularly reflecting on the generation 
which hath ever fince been gathering to the generation of 
their fathers. This I obferve, that the remembrance of 
one who was eminently humble and holy, whether rich or 
poor, is as a precious ointment, it fpreads a fweetnefs on 
my mind, and impreiles it with a veneration for the me- 
mory of fuch a one. They are high in my efteem. Not 
fo thofe who were diiKnguiihed only by their greatnefs, 
their riches, their worldly wifdom, or their fparkling wit, 
When I recoil: ct my ideas of fuch, or read their epitaphs, 
I am ready to (hake my head, and think, " Ah! but 
" where are they now ? What is become of all their great- 
ci nefs and grandeur? Where is the houfe of the prince; 

f And where are the dwelling-places of the wicked ?"— 

When I think of men of the hiofl finning parts, but who 
with all their knowledge knew not the Lord, they move 
my pity. Some of them have left behind them writings, 
which excite admiration in their readers, and will do fo 
for ages yet to cone ; but of what ufe is their fame for 
wit or learning : What a pitiable cafe is it, to be ho- 
noured where they are not ; and defpifed, infulted, tor- 
mented where they are ? 1 find neither riches nor poverty, 

beauty 



HIS SUPERIORITY TO THE WORLD. 2JJ 

beauty nor deformity, make any difference in my cflima- 
tion of the dead. Their works cf piety and charity, 
their humblenefs of mind, meeknefs and mining hoiinefs, 
or the want of thefe, are the things which make the main 
difference in the fenfations I feel, when reflecting on them, 
I have been considering alfo, why it is thus ? And the 
chief reafon I can think of is this, becaufe the good effects 
of thefe things are abiding, when the others are vanifhed 
and gone. Thefe follow them, and are gone with them 
to their prefent ftate in the unfeen world, and attend them 
in a glorious eternity. Well faid the wife man, therefore, 
Wifdom u the principal thing, get tvi/dom, and with all thy- 
getting get under/landing. 

HIS SUPERIORITY TO THE WORLD. 

[To the Rev. Mr Darracott.] 

Very dear Sir, Oclz-ber 4, 1 755^ 

It is far from being the lead of the mercies cur bounti- 
ful Lord is pouring out upon me, that I Lave fuch a friend 
as you, now and then to warm my heart with a literary 
communication. Indeed I have m<my fuch friends, and 
not a few among the eftablifhed clergy. Strange revolu- 
tion ! May the Lord make them a thoufand times as 
many! Bleffed be his name, he hath, I truit, given me to 
fit loofe to the world, fo that I cannot love it, and do cot 
care how little I have to do in the concerns of it; nor 
does any thing but a fenfe of duty, for aught I know, en- 
gage me to fpend the hours I do fpend therein ; and yet 
he is filling my cup, and making it to run over more than 
ever. I am fometimes ready to think, hie is heaping 
worldly favours upon me, as if thefe were to be all my 
portion, and I were to have all my good things here. 
Y z Bat 



2j6 HIS PATIENCE UNDER SEVERE PAINS. [_ l 75S' 

But " I am refolved, by his grace," as Luther faid, when 
offered a cardinal's hat, " the Lord Jefus Chrift fhall not 
u put me eft with fuch trifles," I am refolved, his grace 
enabling me, how much foever he gives me of the good 
things of this life, to give him all again. They will very 
well ferve the purpofes for which he beftows them ; but 
t'ley will not ferve me for a portion. The Lord, I praife 
him, hath given me a conftitution, that will not be fatisiied 
with fuch hulks ; I mud have more fubftantial meat, fuch 
as the faints in glory love; yea, fuch as artgels eat. Dead 
be my heart to all below. Thefe things, well laid cut, 
will make me friends ; even friends thai will receive me 
into everlafting habitations ; but if they are held fart, and 
grafped hard, they will but delude my hopes, fail my ex- 
pectation, and wound the hand that holds them. It 
cheers and delights my heart, that the Lord hath made 
me one of his almoners. O may I obtain grace of him 
to be faithful in that office ; that when I am called to give 
tip my account, I may do it with joy, and not with grief or 
fhame ! What have we to do but follow where our Fa- 
ther leads, keep in his way, and keep ourfelves in his love, 
devoting all to him, from whom we receive all? I am, &c. 

j.w. 

. *©„0.^>— — 

HIS PATIENCE UNDER SEVERE PAINS. 

[To a gentleman at London, Mr Williams wrote the fol- 
lowing letter.] 

Dear Sir, Bath, November 5. 1755. 

Here I am the Lord's prifoner, but a prifoner of hope, 
It will be a fortnight to-morrow imce I left home. My 
divine Matter arretted me on his ov/n day, whilft fitting 

under a ferrnon at — ■ — • ~— . There I got cold, and 

was 



HIS PATIENCE UNDER. SEVERE PAINS, 2>f 

was feized with a pain acrofs the reins. It was tolerable 
a day or two, but increafed till my patience had full exer- 
cife. Tuefday, Wednesday, Thurfday, and Friday, I 
fpent at Briftol, full of pain day and night, but not without 
fome merciful intermiffions. Perhaps fome of the lively 
Ifraelitiih women, and poflibly fome of our own country, 
have brought forth their iirfbborn with throes lefs excru- 
ciating, lefs linking of their fpirits, than thofe which op- 
prefled mine in numerous inftances. Yet I (till believed 
all was mercy, and could blefs the hand that fmote me, 
refigning myfelf entirely to his difpofaL It was a vaft fa- 
tisfaclion to me, whilfl: he chaftened me with pain upon my 
bed, and the multitude of my bones with ftrong pains, to 
believe, as Dr Watts fings, 

" He knows the pain his fervants fee]* 

" He hears his children cry, 
" And their beft wifhes to fulfil 

" His grace is ever nigh." 

Particularly on Thurfday night, when my pains were a- 
full trial to my patience, he gave me a fenfible, furprifing, 
cheering proof that he was awake as well as I. For when 
my pains grew almoft infupportable, and I lay mingling 

with my groans fuch cries as thefe, Lord Jefus, is it 

not enough ? Lord Jefus, are not thy compaffions infinite ? 
Lord Jefus, I have none to fly to, none to pity, none ta 
help me but thyfelf. How eafily canil thou fuccour me I 
Lord, what thou wilt, when thou wilt, how thou wilt* 
Glorify thyfelf in me, by me, upon me; but remember that 
I am duft. Crufh me not as the moth, &c- — Presently 
my pains abated. As the Doclor fings, 

" With pitying eyes, the Prince of grace • 

<c Beheld my helplefs grief; 
11 He faw, and (O amazing love !) 

i{ He ran to my relief." 

Y 3 He 



258 HIS BENEFIT FROM BATH WATERS. L l J55< 

He commanded eafe to return in a few minutes. But O 
how was I ravifhed with his condefcending kindnefs! How 
did my foul praife him, and refolve to praife him as long 
as I lived ! nor have I been tried with fuch exquliite pains 
fince. — Friday evening I rode hither in pain. Next morn- 
ing I confulted my friend Dr Davies. By following his 
directions in bathing and pumping, I now have only a fen- 
fibility where the pains were. I cannot tell you how much 
mercy I fee in this vifitation. Blefs the Lord, O my foul, 
and all that is within me, blefs his holy name. Blefs the 
Lord, O my foul, and forget not all his benefits. Who 
not only forgiveth all thine iniquities, but who healeth all 

thy difeafes. Believe me to be, with great refpecl, your 

much obliged, cordial friend, and humble fervant for Jefus 
fake, J. W. 

HIS BENEFIT FROM BATH WATERS. 

[To a gentleman at Cireneefter, Mr Williams wrote.} 

Hear Sir, Bath, November 7. 1755. 

The Lord hath dealt very gracioufly with me. Thefe 
two. laft mornings I continue well, and to-morrow, with 
the Doctor's leave, I profecute my journey. Blefs the 
Lord, O my foul, and all that is within me, blefs his 
holy name. Shall he not have the praife ? Shall tribes 
of difeafed mortals, wha are repairing hither from all 
parts, all the year round, drinking health, and wafning 
away their pains and weaknelTes, in this choice, this re- 
dundant preparation, this fountain which, like its glorious 
Author, is ever flowing and overflowing, go away, like 
xiine of the ten lepers, and never acknowledge the great 
Phyfician, the mod fublime Chemift? Shall fcarcely one 
in ten turn back, and glorify God? Inftead of that, fhall 

they, 



HIS INCREASING BODILY WEAKNESS. 2J9 

they, at lead numbers of them, fpend their days in lux- 
ury, and much of the night in rioting and drunkennefs, in 
chambering and wantonnefs, in gaming and finful paftimes ? 
And (till are the virtues of the water continued? O the 
boundlefs patience of our God ! Unwearied forbearance ! 
Goodnefs immenfe ! And grace inexhaustible ! Shall we 
be of the number of thefe blind, ungrateful mortals ? For- 
bid it, mighty God! Shall we not trace him, and fee 
him, in all his works of wonder and grace? Yes, and our 
fouls (hall blefs him, and love him, and fear him, and 
truft in him, and be. wholly devoted and refigned to his 
wife, his good, his fovereign will and pleafure. I am, 
dear Sir, very refpeclfully yourjs. J. W» 

HIS INCREASING BODILY WEAKNESS. 

[To his daughter, Mrs Winter, Mr Williams wrote as 
follows.] 

My dear Saily, Maidenhead, Dec. 6. 1 755. 

Very glad 1 mould be to fee you, Mr Winter, and the 
children the Lord hath gracioufly given you, if it were his 
gracious will. I think he hath not faid, " Go into Lon- 
" don this journey." No, if I at all underftand his voice, 
it is, " Make hafte, and get home, left thy ftrength, which 
" is already much weakened in the way, fhould fail thee in 
" the way, and thou fall into the hands of thou knowefl 
" not who." Indeed I dare not enter into London. Yet, 
I think, I mould not fear that, or any thing elfe, could I 
fee Providence calling me to undertake it. At prefent I 
fenfibly feel that he forbids me. Indeed I have had a fickly 
ftomach fome weeks, and the ftrong men begin to bow 
themfelves, and that not only when going up flairs or up 
hill, but even upon the plain. I am not able to walk Lon- 
don 



Z60 HIS DYING COMFORTS. L l 75$ 

don ftreets ; but am defirous, if it be the will of God, to 
ride home. I think I have told you enough, when I have 
added, through the grace of God, none of thefe things move 
me. For I know that my Redeemer liveth. And I 
know whom I have believed. Perhaps he will ftrengthen 
me again. If not, Father, not my willy but thine be done* 
The Lord be with you all. Pray and praife for, (my 
dear), your affectionate father, whiift J. W. 

HIS DYING COMFORTS. 

[This was the laft letter he ever wrote, and was directed 
to his wife.] 

My dearest, Windfor, Lord's day, Dec. 7. 1 755. 

If the Lord will, I mail be at Kidderminfter foon after 
this reaches yaur hands. But if it be his will I mould 
never reach that dear place of my nativity, his will be done» 
It hath long been my earned defire and prayer, that I may- 
have no other will but my Father's; but that lie alone can 
give, and I truft he hath given it me in part, and I trad 
he will give it me more entirely, and that as my day, 
fo mail my ftrength be alfo. If it be his will, I would 
gladly return from whence I came, either to recover 
ftrength, or to die, as pleafeth my dear Father which is 
in heaven. But if it pleafe him who faid, Take Aaron 
up to mount Hor, and Aaron Jhali Id gathered unto his people^ 
and ft. all die there, to fay, " Let Jofeph Williams die on 
" the road, or at Windfor, or Beaconsfield, or Wickham, 
" or Oxford, or wherefoerer; " who dares fay againft it? 
I defire to fay ftill, and in every cafe, Father, not my <will 9 
but thine be done. I am glad my will is made touching the 

difpofalofmy earthly goods. Should it pleafe him to 

weaken my ftrength the next four days, as he hath done 
the lad four days, I think I (hall not be able to hold out 

urvtc 



HIS DVING COMFORTS. l6l 

unto the end. And who knows, but on this day of 

reft I may receive frefh fupplies of ftrength? Nothing is 
too hard for the Lord. But, indeed, at prefent I am fcarce 
able to rife out of my chair. 

The great Apoftle faith, But we had the fenience (or, as 
it is in the margin, the anfwer) of death in ourfdves, that we 
jhould not trujl in our/elves, but in God which raifeth the dead. 
I cannot fay abfolutely, that I have the fentence of death in 
ihyfelf in the fenfe in which I there underftand the Apoftle. 
For he had juft before faid, We were prejfed out of meafure, 
above fir engih, bfomuch that we defpaired even of life. I 
cannot fay, that my views of the fymptoms of my pre- 
fer, t diforder amount to a defpair of life, or of recovery; 
and yet I cannot think it wholly improbable, that I have 
the fymptoms of an approaching diabetes, which may prove 
incurable, and may bring on an atrophy^ (which I think to 
be already begun, for my body and. limbs are confidently 
fhrunk), and fo this animal frame may, in a few months* 
or weeks, or days, pine away, be diiToIved, and die. At 
ieaft, I think I have ground enough to fuppofe this may 
be the cafe, and upon fuch a fuppofition to confider what 
I have to do, whilft life and breath remain. Indeed, my 
deareft, my heart is fenfibly touched in refpecl: of you. 
And yet you need not much wonder, if my thoughts ap- 
pear to be much engrofTed about my own felf, my future 
idfy my eternal felf. Efpecially as this is the Lord's day, 
and I cannot go to church, partly through weaknefs, and 
partly as I am continually fpitting up white tough phlegm. 
Let me therefore talk to my felf* 

Moft certainly this animal frame is frail and mortal, 
though my foul is immortal. Why? becaufe my Father, 
the Father of fpirits, hath faid, " Let it be immortal." 
But he hath appointed unto men once to die. And what 
if the time of my departure draweth nigh ! What if I am 
to be exercifed, as I have been for many days naft, with 

lofi 



2'52 HIS DYIXG COMFORTS. C ! 755« 

Jofs of appetite, frequent defluxions, fits of ficknefs even 
unto vomiting, and growing weaknefs, till this body, late 
fo aclive and fprightiy, is quite emaciated and enfeebled, 
and become no longer tenantable for my immortal fpirit ? 
This could not be my cafe, had not my Father appointed 
it mould be fo. My days are determined, the number of 
my months is with him, he hath appointed my bounds, 
which I cannot pafs. And why fhould I defire to pafs 
them ? No, I do not, would not, will not defire it. Un- 
der whatever exercifes of ficknefs and pain, it becomes me 
to fay, and let me fay it with my whole heart, and with 
the full confent of my will, Ncverihckfs, mot as 1 ui.7, but 
as thou i-i/t. Certainly it is my intertil: to truft, not in 
myfelf, but in God who raifeth the dead. How elfe 
fhall I bear with patience and with becoming refignation, 
the painful, tedious, unwinding of the thread of life? How 
mail I kifs the rod, but by hearing it, and him who doth 
appoint it ? Lord, increafe my faith. Lord, help ray un- 
belief. 

But in this view of my cafe, how fhall I be thankful e- 
r.ough to the God and Father cf our Lord Jefus Chrift ! 
How mall I blefs him enough, who, according to his a- 
bundant mercy, hath begotten me again unto a lively hope 
by the resurrection of Jefus Cbrift from the dead! A lively 
hope of an inheritance incorruptible, undenied, and that 
fadeth not away, referred in heaven for me: and to a lively 
hope, that I am kept by the power of God through faith 
unto falvation; and that herein I can greatly rejoice, though 
now for a feafon, as need is, I am in heavinefs through 
manifold trials. 

In this view of my cafe, what fnould I do, or what could 
fupport my fpirits, If I had hope in this life only ? What 
though a bountiful Providence hath bkffed me with more 
than enough to fulfil all my engagements : what though I 
have feen ail my children comfortably fettled: what though 

no 



HIS DYING COMFORTS. 263 

no man can be happier than I in a dear, tender, dutiful 
wife : what can all thefe things do for a dying man? I aik 
again, What can all thefe temporary comforts do for a dy- 
ing man, were they ten times as many and comforting as 
they are ? 

I fuppofe myfelf a dying man ; and, upon fuch a fuppo- 
fition, what can pofllbly ftand mz in ftead ? I read in St 
John's Revelation, Blejfed are the dead which die in the 
Lord, from henceforth ; yea, faith the Spirit, thai they may reft 
from their labours, and their worh do follow them ; and 
that this he heard by a voice from heaven. Should I not 
hereupon inquire, what is all this to me ? What is it to 
die in the Lord ? It is to die, united to Chrift by faith, 
firmly believing in him, and that both as able to fare to 
the uttermoft, and as equally willing to fave. Shall I 
thus die in the Lord ? Do I live in the Lord, and to the 
Lord ? The life that I now live in the flefh, do I live by 
the faith of the Son of God? Do 1 do all that I do, 
whether in word or in deed, in the name of the Lord 
Jefus Chrift ? Do I by lively actings of faith receive all 
my fupplies, in the religious life, out of his fulnefs, and 
from him as the ever-flowing, over-flowing fountain of all 
grace ? Do I do all with an eye to his glory, daily and 
continually devoting, refigning, and confecrating all he doth 
or mall beftow on me to his fervice and difpofal ? If not, 
what or where are thofe works which mall follow me? or 
of what avail (hall any works of mine, that mall follow 
me, be to my eternal falvation ? I apprehend that none of 
thofe w r orks of mine, that mail follow me, can avail me any 
thing, otherwife than as evidences of myfincere love to Chrifr:, 
and unfeigned faith in him. And fo I underftand the hve- 
reign Judge, when foretelling the procefs of the la ft judgment, 
Come ye blffd, &c. for I was an hungred, and ye gave me 
meat, &c. that is, you evidenced your love to me, and faith 
in me, by relieving, for my fake, thofe who loved me, and 

flood 



1§\ HIS DYING COMFORTS. Z l l55' 

flood In need of your help. If this be a right fenfe of 
thofe important words, I humbly truft many works (hall 
follow me, of which I (hall not be afhamed at that glori- 
ous, grorifying day, that great day of retribution ; even 
then, when the kings of the earth, and the great men, and 
the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, 
(hall hide themfeives in the dens, and in the rocks of the 
mountains, and (hall fay to the mountains and rocks, Fall 
on us, and hide us from the face of him that fitteth upon 
the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. I have a 
cheerful, foul-reviving hope, that even then, the glorious 
Lamb, whofe coming I joyfully expect, whofe name is 
now as ointment poured forth, and who is my refuge in 
every time of need, my Lord, and my God, my Saviour and 
my friend, my Jefus, and my all, will mew me a pleafed, 
(milling countenance. 

" Then will he own my worthlefs name 

" Before his Father's face, 
" And in the new Jerufalem 

" Appoint my foul a place." 

Certainly my confcience beareth me witnefs, before the 
Lord, that I have relieved many, in the name of difciples, 
and upon no other consideration ' than a charitable hope, 
that they were lovers of Chrift, and interested in his love. 
Certainly my confcience beareth me witnefs, that I have 
lr>ng flnce abfolutely and entirely devoted to the Lord 
Chrift, and to his intereft, all that he hath entrufted me 
with; yea, every day have I endeavoured and defigned 
afrefh to confecrate to him, and his fervice, all I am, and 
all I have, refolving by his grace to render to him what- 
ever his providence afks for, be it more or lefs. Long 
fince he hath clearly (hewed me, that as I came naked in- 
to this world, and that confequentiy all I am poffe;Ted of 
is the free gift of his bounty and kind providence, there- 
fore 



K1S DYING COMFORTS. 26> 

fore all I have is his own, and facred to him, and to his 
fovereign will and pleafure. And his promifes aiTure me, 
I (hall not, I cannot be a lofer by whatever I do for him. 

Not that my Lord forbids me, or reftrains me, from 
freely ufing whatever may contribute to my own prefent 
comfort, for he giveth liberally, and upbraideth not. 
Nor doth he reflrain me from providing for my own, but 
■commands me to provide, according to my ability, for thofe 
efpecially who are of my own houfe. Yet he expects I 
ihould eye, and obferve the calls of his providence, and 
obey them, not grudging to give whatever he feems to de- 
mand of me, either to the relief of his people's wants, or 
for the furtherance and profperity of his gofpel. How far 
I have acted by this rule, the laft great day will in the beft 
manner declare. Undoubtedly in many things I have fin- 
ned, and come rtiort of the glory of God. Yet in the 
main, and believing him to be the Lord God, merciful 
and gracious, &c. I dare lodge my appeal with him, who 
fearcheth the hearts and reins, that he doth know it hath 
been my defire and defign to honour the Lord with my 
fubftance, &c. 

Neverthelefs, I freely own, that I draw my brighteft 
evidences, and derive my liveliest hopes, not fo much from 
what I have done for him, as from what he hath done for 
me, and in me, and by me. Certainly I experienced the 
mighty power of his grace, changing and renewing my 
heart, in the days of my youth, when aged about feven- 
teen or eighteen, drawing me to hate what I naturally 
loved, and to love what I naturally hated. Certainly he 
turned me, and I was turned, in a great meafure, from thofe 
vanities and Iufcs in which my heart had long delighted. 
In numberiefs inftances, he hath cheered my heart witlv 
the fmiles of his reconciled face, and hath died abroad that 
love of his, which is better than wine. Certainly, in very 
numerous inftances, he hath enabled me to rejoice with joy 
Z unfpeakable, 



~\66 £13 DYING COMFORTS. L 1 15§* 

unfpeakable, and full of glory, and many times on account 
of immediate anfwers to prayer. And the brighter and 
fuller the difcoveries of his love have been, he, and he alone, 
doth know, the more deeply have 1 been made to humble 
myfelf at his feet; yea, to abhor myfeif and repent, as it 
were, in dull: and afhes. Nor is there any thing I have 
been more defirous, or even ambitious of, thefe many years, 
than to lie, and always lie, at the foot of the crofs of Chriit, 
in the "lowlieft fubmiflion and proftration of foul, fenfible 
that I am nothing, have nothing, and can do nothing, and at 
the fame time to fee myfelf complete in him. Surely nothing 
have I defired more, or more ferventj} r , than that he would 
make me humble, and keep me always humble. Nor hath 
any confideration tended more to reconcile my fpirit to this 
afflictive difpenfation, than this hope, that the Lord is hear- 
ing my prayers, and granting me the thing 1 wifhed for. 
Indeed, i fcarce know what method could be more effectual, 
than that he hath taken, to humble me to the duft, and 
make me fenfible I am nothing in his hands, but what he 
makes me to be. Let him therefore humble me, and fpare 
not. Only, dearefr. Lord, give me fubmiihon, give me 
patieuce, give me always to fee thy hand in every affliction, 
give me always *o lie at thy feet, without a murmuring 
word, or a repining thought. O give me to accept the 
punifhment of my fins. 

Do not imagine, my deareft, I write thefe things to 
grieve you, but to glorify God. O how dear is Chrift 
now to my foul! 1 hope my Chriftian friends pray for me. 
1 can do but little of that work myfelf. But, bleffed be 
his name, I can cad myfelf at his feet, and fay, (I think, 
with my whole heart,) as holy Baxter did, " Lord, what 
* f thou wilt, when thou wilt, how thou wilt." The Spirit, 
I hope, beareth witnefs with my fpirit, that I am a child 
of God; and the fame Spirit, in many of my fellow-Chrif- 
tians, beareth the fame wunefs. Nor am 1 aihamed to 

own, 



HIS DYING COMFORTS. 267 

own, I take pleafure and comfort in the good opinion of 
the godly. To ftand fo h^gh in their eiteem, as tkeir 
many letters witnef?, contributes not a little to the clearing 
my evidence, the brightening of my hopes, and elevating 
of my joy in the Lord. 

Now then, O my foul, what remains for me to do all 
the refidue of my days, but, firfi of all, to extol and praife 
him, who hath faved me, and called me with a holy cal- 
ling; and not only f©, but hath given me to eat of the hid- 
den manna; and not only fo, but hath given me a white 
flone, and in the (lone a new name written, which no man 
knows but myfelf. O what is hell to be delivered from, 
and to know that I am delivered ! O what is heaven, to 
be the place and (tate of our advancement, and to know 
that we are denizens of the new Jerufalem 1 

And in the next place, mould I not fpeak of him, and 
recommend his good ways to all around me ; and that, even 
whilft he is weakening my ftrength in the way, and fhort- 
ening my days? What though he crufh my feeble frame* 
though my days be fpent with grief, and my hours 
with fighing 1 What though I chatter like a crane, or a 
fwajlow, and mourn like a dove, that my age is departed* 
and is removed from me like a fhepherd's tent, that I have 
cut off like a weaver my life, that he will cut me oft with 
pining ficknefs, and from- day even to night will make 
an end of me ! Is it not enough, that, in Chrift Jefus the 
Lord, he hath made with me an everlafting covenant, or 
dered in all things andfure? This is all my falvation. Be 
this all my defire. Is it not matter of abounding joy, that 
I can ling, with appropriating faith, Dr Doddridge's 2 2d 
hymn ? 

M *Tis mine, the covenant of his grace; 

" And every promife mine ! 
u All fprung from everlafting love, 

^^nd feal'd by blood divine, 

Z 2 « On* 



268 HIS DYING COMFOP.TS. C ! 755' 

li On my unworthy favour'd head 

M Its bleffings all unge; 
46 Bleffings more num'rous than the flars, 

" More lading and more bright. 

* { Death, thou may'ft tear this rag of flefh,. 

" And fink my fainting head, 
w And lay my ruins in the grave, 

" Among my kindred-dead. 

*' But death and hell in vain mall ftrive 

" To break that facred reft, 
$( Which God's expiring children feel r 

(i When leaning on his breaft. 

u Th' enlarged fuul thou can ft not reach* 

" Nor rend from Chrift away; 
#J Though o'er my moul'dring daft thou boaft, 

• f The triumphs of a day. 

4i The night is paft, my morning dawns, 

" My covenant God defcends,. 
w And wakes that duft to join my foul 

" In blifs that never ends. 

" That cov'nant the laft accent claims 

" Gf this poor fault'ring tongue ; 
" And that fhall the firft notes employ 

u Of my celeftial fong." 

Farewell, my deareft. I hope to fee you again. But 
if not, all is well. We fhall fpend a long, a joyful eternity 
at our Father's houfe together. If feparate fpirits may 
have the honour of miniftering fpirits, how gladly would 1 
be a witnefs to your fecret devotion, and (if poffible) an 
affiftant 1 And how gladly would I receive your expiring 
fpirit, in order to convey and prefent it at the foot of the 
eternal throne ! But how little do I yet know of thefe 

thin Kf I 



HIS DYING COMFGRrSo 269 

things ! Yet a little while, and we (hall know ten million, 
times more than is yet known by your poor, loving, re- 
joicing, 

Joseph Williams *. 



* Mr Williams was in perfect health, when he left home, Octo- 
ber 22. 1755. His illnefs began in lefs than a week after, which 
induced him to ufe the Bath waters, under the direction of an 
eminent phyfician there of his intimate acquaintance, and he ap«- 
peared to be fo well recovered, that he left Bath, November 10, 
to profecute his journey. But after the gradual advance of every 
threatening fymptom, he wrote the above letter to his wife, which 
fhe received, December 11. about an hour before he himfelf was 
brought home in a chaife. His complaints terminated in a lethargy, 
of which he died on Lord's day morning, December 21. about. a. 
month after he had completed the fixty-third year of his age. 



Z x AFffiN-- 



APPENDIX, 



CONTAI NtN-G 

Original Letters, from Mr Williams, to the late 
Reverend Mr R ll. 



Bear Sir, Kidder mlnjler 9 Dec. 26. 1750. 

I was favoured with your's of the 15th pad, at London, 
where I arrived in health and fafety the 24th, having had 
rich and large experience of His preferving care, who num- 
bers the hairs of our heads, and in whofe hands our timss 
are. I condole with you and your fpoufe, the unexpected 
difafter which fo fuddenly darned your blooming hopes. 
But all things are of God ; and to his hand you do wife'y 
to refer all. You know all things work together for good 
to them that love him. I fhall be glad, neverthelefs, to 
hear, by your next, that he is turning the captivity of Mrs 

R 11; and for this, you may be aftured, I have been 

ftriving with you in my prayers to God for you. 

You will expect me to fay fornething of my own affairs* 
Alas! I may fay with Job, The thing which I greatly fear- 
ed is come upon me, and that which 1 was afraid nf is come 
unto me. I feel, in a much greater degree than ever before^ 
the poignancy of thofe lines in Dr Young's Night Thoughts : 

Thought ! bufy thought ! too bufy for my peace, 
Strays, wretched rover !: o'er the pleafing pad, 
In queft of v/retchednefs, perverfely (trays, 

And 



APPENDIX, 2.7I 

And finds all defert now, and meets-tire ghofts 

Of my departed joys, a nunrrous train. 

I rue the riches of my former (late. 

Sweet comfort's blafted clutters make me figh. 

I tremble at the blefflngs, once fo dear, 

And every pleafure pains me to the heart. 

My dear Phebe, whofe memory will be always dear to- 
me, took her flight on the evening of November 28.; but 
the thing was entirely hid from me till the evening of 
December 4. It was not only with her full confent, but 
partly at her defire, that I left her to undertake my late 
long journey, for which me gave this reafon : " Although," 
-faid (he, " I can fcarcely expect ever to recover my health 
u again, yet I do apprehend, and fo does Dr Symonds, 
li that this will be a long lingering iilnefs; and probably I 
ct may want your company and affiftance more during the 
€i journey which muft be undertaken by one of you in Janu- 
u ary, than during this." The firft three accounts 1 had 
by poft of her health, were all encouraging; the fourth not 
fo ; the fifth very encouraging again ; the fixth, which 
found me at London, was the moll difcouraging of all : yet 
did I not from that gather any apprehenfion that her end 
was near. My children fent a perfon to meet me more 
than 20 miles from home; and when I faw him at the 
public-houfe, from which he called to me, I bad no fufpi- 
rion, or mifgiving thought, what might occaGon him there* 
When I afked him, " How does my wife dor" he cheerful- 
ly replied, " When I faw her lair, fhe was much as when 
e 1 you left her." This looked pretty well : but when I~ 
inquired farther, " When did you fee her? When did you 
" come from home:" and found he was beginning to anfwer 
me in a ftudied, formal, circumlocutory way, then my heart 
began to throb. 

This, beyond all difpute, is the heavieft ftroke I ever 
felt, and ofttimes heavier by night than by day ; For when I 



2^2 A P P E N D I X, 

fay, My bed Jhah T comfort me, my couch fhaH ea'e my com* 
plaint, alas ! it renews my forrows ; it is Hrowed with 
pricking thorns, and furnifhes gloomy ideas. I have often 
had limbs of myfelf broken off, and torn away from me, 
and felt the throbbings of a father's heart, and was Hill 
folaced and cheered by the prefenxe and converfation of my 
other felf; But now that my other felf is divided, is fepa- 
rated from me, is torn away from my embraces, to whom 
fhall I flee for ccnfolation ? 

Indeed, the burial fervice furnifnes a very pertinent an- 
fwer : " Of whom (hall we feek for fuccour, but of thee, 
u O Lord, who for our fins are juilly difpleafed I" What 
fnould 1 do now, if I had not a God to go to ? I would 
not part with the hope I have of an intereit in his cove- 
nant love, for all our King's dominions. I pity poor 
wretches, whoamidft all their pcmp and luxury, have ne'er 
a God, or whofe God is their belly, their wealth, or their 
honour : Therefore I have great reafon to blefs a taking, 
as well as a giving God. He taught me, 15 months ago, 
more than ever before, in every thing to give thanks. I 
have, fince that, been more and more frequently in a prai- 
ling frame, than in any other 15 months of my life. This, 
I think, I have found to contribute not a little to give me 
a fenfe of my obligations to him, and to lay me humbly 
and fubmiflively at his feet. I will praife him, who did not 
take her away whilft my children were young, and more de- 
pendent on her maternal care. I will praife him, who crown- 
ed the 31 years of our marriage-union, as Mr Philip Henry 
obferves concerning his own, with more than 31,000 mer- 
cies. I will praife him, that, through the whole, and par- 
ticularly in her lad long illnefs, {he wanted no affif lance, 
no comfort, no convenience of life, (except my prefence 
with her at laft) 5 which money could buy, or Chriftian 
friendfhip afford. I will praife him for the growing 
hope {he had of eternal life, and cheering profpeft of a blifs- 

ful 



APPENDIX. ^73 

ful immortality ; that (lie was not afraid to die, but had a 
complete victory over the great enemy of nature : for fhe 
knew whom fhe had believed, as (he had often expreffed 
during her weaknefs, and particularly the day cf her de- 
parture, when dear Mr Fawcett, juft before he kneeled 
down by her bed fide, propofed fome qucftions to her, to 
all which fhe anfwered cheerfully and fatisfaclorily. This 
was a direction to him to chufe that paffage for the fuh- 
ject of her funeral fermon. But above all, I will praife 
and blefs the God and Father of our Lord Jefus Chrilt^ 
who, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten again 
unworthy me to a lively hope, &c. I will praife him that 
I forrow not as one that hath no hope, but can purfue her 
departed fpirit, trace its wondrous way, and realize to my- 
felf her unfeen, unknown bkffednefs and glory, in the con- 
fidence of faith that I (hall not only follow, but overtake 
her, who through faith and patience doth now inherit the 
promifes. This is all my {alvation, and all my defire. 

Indeed, I very fenfibly adopt thofe lines of Dr Young, 
in his Night Thoughts : 

I lovM her much, but now I love her more : 
Like birds, whofe beauties languifh, half conceal'd, 
Till mounted on the wing, their gloffy plumes, 
Expanded, mine with azure, green and gold : 
How bleflings brighten as they take their flight ! 

May a gracious God reflore Mrs R 11, and fpare 

you long to be mutual bleflings to each other. In the 
mean time, may your labours in the gofpel be crowned 
with fignal fuccefs. I am not without hopes, another foul 
in my family is awakened ; one who has been a giddy care- 
lefs youth, till la ft Lord's day but one : then the marble 
began to weep under the morning fermon, but wept mere 
plentifully in the afternoon ; and I am not without hopes 
the unprejfioii abides. God grant he may not lofe 

hia 



274 APPENDIX. 

his religious fenfe in- thefe days of idlenefs and vanity.— * 
Have you heard of a wonderful work of grace lately in 
Holland ? I have the printed account, dated from Rotter- 
dam ; but this remarkable work has been in feveral con- 
gregations in the Veluvre, one of the quarters of the. duchy- 
of Guelderland, beginning in a town called Niewkerk, a- 
bout 10 Englifli miles above Amersfoort, and about as 
many from Harderwick, near the head of the Zuider Zee; 
and from that town, my author fays, the biefled wind of 
the Spirit is blown over to Sve other congregations, in 
the villages of Putten, Barnevelt, Lunteren, Nunfneet, and 
Zoeft. The work began at firft, and was carried on for 
a time, with little noife, by means of a public weekly cate- 
chifing, fet up with a defign, that by a plain fimple familiar 
way of infraction, ignorant people might be brought to 
fome diflinci: knowledge of the Lord, in his righteoufnefs, 
holinefs, hatred of fin, and in his love, grace, and mercy 
to the chief of finners, through Jefus Chrift, and of them* 
felves in their fallen guilty, corrupt, miferable ftate and condi- 
tion. And it was helped on by a fort of felJowmip mee^ 
ings, or Chriftian conferences, alternately at the houfes of 
the few among them who feemed to have any fear of God* 
chiefly under the conduct of Mr Kuypers, a young 
zealous minifter, chofen, in the year 1748, to the aflift- 
ance of their old minifter, Mr Roldanus. But after a 
while, the preaching of the gofpel began to be attended 
with fuch awful power, that feveral were made to cry out 
aloud, with many tears, from a bitter painful fenfe of thek 
dreadful diftrefs and mifery* The firft inftance of this 
kind was under a fermon of Mr Roldanus : an aged wo- 
man, in the mod lamentable manner, and with all the 
figns of terror and compunction, cried aloud for pity and 
mercy from the Lord. This occasioned great commotion, 
and many were much affected with diftrefs and trouble; 
but were a little calmed by the miniftor's telling the wo- 
man 



APPENDIX. 275 

r.un gravely, and very folemnly, that the word of falva- 
lion was yet proclaimed to her ; tiiat now, even now, was 
;be accepted time, and day of falvation. 

After this, all continued quiet for fome days, till Nov. 
16. 1749, When Mr Kuypers preached on Pfalm lxxii. 
16. There f:all be an handful of corn in the earth, &c. The 
Spirit of the Lord wrought in an aftonifhing manner : all 
that had paffed before feemed to have been a preparation 
for greater and more glorious things. The trouble of con- 
fcience, and working of affections, was general. There 
was a great lamentation. Rivers of tears gufned out, and 
feveral fell trembling and aftonifhed to the earth, unable to 
(land by reafon of the agony and agitation of their fpirits ; 
fome of them crying to this purpofe, ' View in me, as in 
" a fearful glafs, how bitter a thing fin will be at laft, and 
*' how fearful the wrath of the great and holy God!" 

Many of the troubled and broken in heart were brought 
to Mr Kuypers's houfe, who himfelf flood artonifhed at 
fuch an event, and was under great doubts and fears a- 
bout it, which made him very careful and cireumfpect in 
examining all thefe appearances, and comparing them with 
the Lord's word. Next day, there was an almoft uni- 
verfal aftonifhment and dejection among the inhabitants of 
the town. Mr Kuypers went early in the morning from 
houfe to houfe ; and finding the work too much for him, 
got fome private Chriftians to aflift him in it. They were 
bufy the whole day, going to houfes innumerable ; and 
every where the cry was, " What fhall we do to be fa- 
ved r" The next Thurfday, be preached from the words 
laft mentioned, together with the i\poilie's anfwer. From 
that day, the work increafed beyond defcription. There 
is no painting it to the life. It was a perfect commentary 
upon the 2d chapter of the Acts. Mockers ridiculed, but 
multitudes were pricked in their hearts ? and cried, " What 

" mail 



276 APPENDIX. 

** ball we do ?" Nothing to be heard now, but the voice 
of weeping, prayer, amd fuppiicaticn, in many houfes, 
where formerly carnal mirth and laughter had abounded. 
Mr Kuypers was fent to from all corners, or his hcufe was 
full of fuch as came, anxioufly inquiring, if there was any 
help or hope for fuch as they I 

The exercifes of the mod were with a considerable mea- 
fure of quietnefs and fedatenefs, who, as far as could bz 
judged, were favingly converted; but a great number were 
exercifed with great bodily diftrefs and diforder. The 
fenfe they had of the danger they were every moment in, 
was too ftrong not to have an uncommon influence upon 
the flrongefl confutation. And why may we not fuppole 
a fudden clear difcovery of the dreadful evil of fin, and of 
the unfearchable riches of ChriiVs grace, fuch as the word, 
fet home by the Spirit of God, can make in the confcience 
of an awakened fmner, may reafonably produce as great 
effec"ls upon mens bodies, as a fudden furprife, by means of 
fome interefling temporal event, has oftentimes done ? 

And this diftrefs did not feem to flow fo much from 
fear of punifhment, as from a fenfe of the dishonour and 
provocation given to an infinitely good gracious God, the 
ruin of his image in the (inner, and a lofs of likenefs and 
conformity to him, of union and communion with him, 
and enjoyment of him, fo that the poor creatures would 
mourn over, hate and abhor their (ins,_ and themfelves for 
them ; and fome of then would cry, " Woe is me, what 
u a monfter am I to fin againft fo gracious and merciful, and 
" to have injured and provoked fo holy, fo good a God 1 
u O I am afhamed to lift up my hct before God or men! 
u I am unworthy to behold the heavens ! ' with a great 
deal more to the fame purpofe. In this way, there would 
be more than 50 perfons in a day at the houfes of the mi- 
nifters, fome falling on their knees, and afterward flat on 
the earth, groaning and fighing cut their bitter lamenta- 
tions 



APPENDIX. 27/ 

f'ons. This was the cafe of many hundreds, and that of 
all characters and ages, from 7 to 70, So, and 9c years of 
age. And among them, many of the more knowing and 
learned in the fpecuiative knowledge of Scripture truths ; 
and fome of thoie who had been the mod virtuous, and 
morally honed. Such were thoroughly convinced now of 
their blindnefs and ignorance, and of their fatal fecurity in 
refting on their own imaginary righteoufnefs, and brought 
to a full conviction, that all the morality in the world can- 
not fave a foul, without union to Jefus Chriit. 

The awakening went on fo powerfully all the months 
of June and July lad, that feveral hundred ftrangers, who 
came from other places, were made to feel its influence, 
and were pricked in the heart. And the blefied work 
dill goes forward, and hasfpread through feveral other con- 
gregations, and eminently in the village of Putten. 

Since the above, a letter has been received from the 
fame hand, by a merchant in Scotland, dated the 3d of 
October 17 Jo, from which the following is an extract : 

The reformed congregation at Niewkerk confids of at 
lead 2030 fouls, of whom above two-thirds have been, or 
are, under deep conviction of their miferable lod date by 
nature. Befides the villages I have mentioned in another 
letter, the Spirit of the Lord works mightily in other pla- 
ces of that country, particularly in two villages, the one 
called Aalten, the other Zoefikdyke. 

You will fcarceiy expect from me the ufual compliments 
of this feafon. May your heart and mine, and Mrs 
R IPs, more and more rejoice, that Chrid is born in- 
deed, by this lively pledge, that our fouls are born again 
in him, and are growing up in him to a taller dature. 
May he, that minidereth feed to the fower, multiply and 
fructify every handful of feed you fow, and increafe the 
fruits of your righteoufnefs. I mall be glad of a long e- 
pidle from you, which mail be, God witling, thankfully 

A a acknow- 



2*]3 APPENDIX. 

acknowledged by, dear Sir, your always rejoicing, though, 
at this time, (brrowful friend and fervant, X* W. 



-r^ r 0.{^- 



Rztr. SiKt Kidderminjter, jfan. 19. 1751. 

Man^ kind letters of condolence, fince it pleafed our 
heavenly Father to blaft the fv/eeteft, the deareft of all 
my earthly comforts, I have been favoured with ; and 
p.cne of them all, either from rniniiler or Chrifrian friend* 
hath been made more inftruftive., more confolatory, or con- 
veyed more quieting, filencing confiderations to my heart, 
than yaur's of the 4th inftant. I thank you for it. It 
was a word in feafon. O that I may more efpecially and 
more warmly praife Him who gave it to you. 

Yefterday, indeed, I received one from the Rev. and 
dear Mr Darracott of Wellington, So merle tfliire,. who 
having feen a letter or two I fent lately to my brother 
Pearfall at Taunton, inftead of condoling, congratulates 
rue, not becaufe God hath taken away the defire of my 
eyes, but becaufe " God gare me," as he expreiTes, " fuch 
" an excellent wife, and made our lives fo comfortable for 
<; fo many years ; that he gave her fuch comfort in death, 
€t and hopes beyond it; and that I am (till rejoicing behind ; 
€i rejoicing in the prefence of God in my own foul, and in the 
u work of God in my family.** He then prays I may go on 
thus to rejoice, and aiks, " What fhould damp your joy ? Hath 
4i God made, not only with you, but yours, an everJaftirrg 
" covenant, well ordered in all things and fure, and is not 
" this all your faivation, and all your joy ? Mod furely 
*« it i$.^ . 

I never received more latisfk&ion in my own mind, 
with regard to the departure of my deareft from me, than 
I did this morning, as I was walking in the church-yard, 
tvhsre I lore to take a. turn every day, fcmetimes more 

than 



APPENDIX. 279 

than once, and often caftan eye towards her grave : Not 
only had I a joyful hope, as I have all along had, that he? 
fpirit is made perfect, and is now an affociate of bltiTed 
faints and angels, but, or ever I was aware, I felt feme 
what of a ravifhing fenfe of her prefent blifsful employ- 
ment and rapturous joy. It feemed to be fome fweet, 
though tranfient, participation of her bleffednefs. I came 
home more than ktisfied with the divine* though mourn- 
ful difpenfation, I came home rejoicing, allured that he 
hath done all things well. 

Indeed, I have had full fatisfaction all along, that the 
wifdom of God, and even his goodnefs too, hath had a 
-bright difplay in this difpenfation. I-faw from month to 
month, the two laft years of her life more efpeciaJly, her 
evidences and her hopes brightening, and every grace ri- 
pening for glory. My brother Pearfall took particular no- 
tice to me, when he was with us at Bath, how much riper 
ihe now feemed for heaven than when he was at Kidder- 
minfter the y^ar before. And he took notice how much 
(he was improved in the divine life fince his laft vifit. t 
have been very fen fible that flic enjoyed a more comfort- 
ahle frame in genejal the kft two years, than in any other 
two years of our acquaintance. I kcownotwhether.it 
might not be dated from October 3. 1748, the evening b£ 
:that day when I fet out on my fouth circuit. Somewhere 
I receives! *a letter from her that journey, in. which \hc told 
me, that in the twilight, reflecting that Hetty was married, 
and gone to the Ilk of Wight, and fhe might not fee her 
again, foe knew not Avhen.; Sally being gone to be with 
her .fitter fir many months; and now her hufband gone 
from her for fix weeks; ihe feemed to herfelf as one for- 
lorn, bereft of .all her deareft earthly friends. Upon this, 
fiie grew very penfive. But after a while, reflecting how 
unprofitabk it is to indulge fuch gloomy apprehenfions, frre 
refbived to go into her clofet, and fhut the doocj, and try 
A a 2 if* 



2 So APPENDI X. 

if ftie could not find an all Sufficient Friend there. She 
did fo ; and the Lord was pleafed to lift upon her the 
light of his countenance, and to afford her fuch fweet to- 
kens of his prefence, that her foul could rejoice in the 
Lord, and joy in the God of her falvation. And the 
fweet favour thereof feemed to abide upon her mind when 
fte wrote fome weeks after, fo that me could tell me (lie 
had all things and was full, and had fcarcely miffed our 
company flnce. 

We fee, in this inftance, a fpecimen of the Lord's ufual 
way of comforting his children. He firft empties them of 
the creature, before he fills them with himfelf. The heart 
is not fk to be filled with divine confolations, till creature- 
ftrcams run low : nor will it fo entirely lean on Chrift, 
till creature- props are taken away. This I would apply 
to myfelf in prefent circumflances. O may my foul now, 
and henceforward, go out more freely, more fully to her 
kelcved. May Jefus always afford me a bofom to lean 
upon. Bkffed be his name ; I will bear witnefs for him ; 
he is a faithful God. I was taking fome pains, a week 
ago, to look into the meaning of that epithet, as applied 
to God, and Chrift, and to the word of God, What 
led me into it was, I was ftudying that neceffary qualifica- 
tion of a bifhop, Titus i. 9. One that holdeth fafl the faith' 
ful word. I at once faw, that in that paffage it muft be 
taken in a paffive fenfe, viz. a gofpel which may be de- 
pended upon, found doctrine, a form of found words, 
v/hich will not difappoint them who practically believe it. 
And it did me good to cocfider, that with refpecl to God, 
it muft be taken as well in a paflive as in an active fenfe, a 
God abfolutely to be depended on. But this is a digref- 
fion. Before the fore-mentioned feafon, fhe had fcmetimes 
her liftings up, and at other times her cartings down ; but 
I think, from that time her hopes conftantly prevailed. 
Whatever afflictions (lie at any time laboured under, fhe 

could 






APPENDIX* 2 £t 

could look with a Ready faith and hope to the joyful iiTue 
of them. Before that, ihe was oft complaining to me m 
a morning, that whereas ffhe had many wakeful hours in 
the night, fhe could not get her mind to engage clofely, or 
with a defirable coherence, in meditation on divine fub^ 
je<fcs: She would fay, fhe could make little or npthing of 
meditation or prayer when in bed. Afterward it was 
*iuch other wife. Many a morning .finoe, at my firft -a- 
waking, fhe hath told me, with an air of devotion and 
v thankfulnefs, how fweet her waking hours had been to 
Her.; that though fhe had but link Keep, fhe had iiad -what 
was more fweet and refrefhing ; and -fome-tim.es hath re- 
lated to me Tome particular paflages of Scripture,, which 
had been imprefTed on her mind, the particular breathings 
which had been excited and drawn out thereby, and fcme- 
-times what particular evidences and tokens fhe had of the 
Divine favour, Gnce or twice, when I have accidentally 
awoke in the night, and foe has- thought me ft ill afleep, I 
have heard her, with a wintering, breathing out her fou! : 
to Him who is not dull of hearing by night or by day. 
And my youngeft -daughter,, who ufed to lie with her in* 
my abfenee, telb me to-day*, that fhe hath, feveral times 
heard her in like manner.. 

It was evident, through the many month's) I think about: 
7 or &, That ! her health was in a declining-ftate, her afrec- 
*tions were more and mo*e loofened from the world; and! 
as her fiokneis, and pains, and weaknefs increased, fo did* 
her patience and refignation to the will, of God. Andi 
very remarkable was iter humility, and her thankfulnefs for 
the care taken of her. When 3 firft proppfed and prefled .'. 
her going to Bath, and that I would go with ker, fhe 
thought herfelf not worthy fa much coll and care, and ex— 
prefTed great thanfcfulnefs for, every, thing -done for her ? , 
which endeared reer more and more to me. Under the: 
difcipline of the rod, fhe ripened apace for a better world. 
Ikt k (till hangs heavy upon my fpirus, that I. mould have; 
A. a j, becai 



2%2 APPESDli; 

been abfent from her when her difToiution approached* 
Blefled be God, who did not then hide himfelf from her* 
but gave her living comforts in her dying moments. — 
Farewell, thou deareft partner of my heart. Lord, haften 
the time when I may go to her, fince (he fhall not return 
to me. 

I have the pleafure to tell you, the arrow of conviction 
flicks fad in my apprentice's heart. A carnal girl, who 
faw the change, but knew not the caufe, cried out lately, 
" What's come to Dick of late, he is fo civil and filent !" 
Old things are paffed away, behold all things are become 
new. I was jealous how he would ftand the temptations of 
the holidays; but they were nothing to him. He fpent 
all his evenings in his chamber, and does (till. Blefled be 
God, I fcarce know any thing that hath contributed fo much 

to my comfort and joy under my family affliction. 

Your's, &;c. J. -W. 

¥*ry dear StRi Kidderminjler, Marc\\. 1 75 1.. 

It grieved me much for your fake, and that of your 
poor fpoufe, that thofe miniftering fpirits who are fent forth 
to minifter to the heirs of falvation, had it not particularly 
in charge concerning her, fo to keep her in all her ways, 
that neither her tender foot, nor the chair (he rode ia, 
might be dafhed againft a (tone. But what fhall we fay \ 
Was it not permitted, appointed^ by Him who doth all 
things well and wifely I 

Ceafe then, nor order imperfection name ; 

Our proper blifs depends on what we blamer 

Know thy own point- 
Submit — in this, or any other fphere. 

Secure to be as blefl as thou canft bear, 

AH nature is but art, unknown to thee ; 

All chance, direction; which, thou canft not feej 

All 



APPENDIX. 2S| 

All difcord, harmony, not underftood ; 

All partial evil, universal good ; 

And fpight of pride, and in thy reafon's fpight. 

One truth is clear, Whatever is is right. Pope* 

But I rejoice to fee you have a better, more Chriitian 
view of this matter, than ever Pope appears to me to have 
had. In their affliction, fays our Father, they will feek 
me early ; and his ways are not like the ways of the fathers 
of our fleih, who are foon tired with their children's im- 
portunity. He loves to be fought early, earnestly, impor- 
tunately. He loves it becaufe he loves us, and knows it 
is always beft with us when we lie loweft before him, and 
keep neareft to him. Again, how difficult is it to ufe, and 
go on in the ufe of well approved means and instruments, 
with entire dependence on the great Efficient ! Or, if we 
fet out right, with our eye fixed entirely upon him, how 
apt are we to grow weary of looking up ! Our Father wiU 
have honour from his own children, and he knows how to 
get it. Neither are we apt to be thankful enough for mer- 
cies begun ; but he will teach us in every thing, yea under 
the greateft disappointments, to give thanks. He tried Job 
thoroughly, and we rrmft all be tried according to our mea- 
fare, whether we can truirhim where we cannot trace him, 
and love him even when he frowns, or feems to frown 
upon us. I have been frequently recommending your cafe 
.to his tender companion, and hope you will quickly let me 
know, that he who hath prepared our hearts to pray, hath 
alfo inclined his ear to hear. 

It does my heart good every day to fee how my appren- 
tice goes on, and haw diligently he embraces every week- 
day opportunity, and what a thorough change is in his tem- 
per and conducl. He that was once unprofitable, is now 
profitable both to his dear paflor and to me. How good 
Kas God been in timing this his gracious vifiution ! Yea, 

I have 



<&4 APPENDIX. 

I have reafon to think, that out of the eater came for^i 
meat ; that the removal of. my dear partner,, together with 
the many lectures of mortality it .drew after it, and prayers 
accommodated thereto, were the^foft means of mollifying- 
the marble, and preparing it to weep under that rouilng 
awakening word, which fo exactly coincided -therewith. 
O what confolation has this aiforded me ! How good hath 
God been to me ! What reafon l*a*e I ftrll to -trufl and 
praife him, even under the ifevereft of hb difpenfetions ! It 
is true, He hath taken away the deareft of all my earthly 
-comforts, and I could not but mourn fucha lof3. He ex- 
pected me to mourn. He would not have tbeen & well 
pleafed to fee me unconcerned, whilit his hand «was hea*y 
-upon me But I have not forrowed as one without hope. 
vAnd why mould the children of tfuch a King go mourning 
all their days? Ke calls us to rejoice more than to mourn, 

to rejoice in ^he Lord always, and again to rejoice 

Yours, 4l$. J. W. 



Rev. Sir, Kidder minj?er i May 19. 1752* 

1 h^se 'been think mg, for four or fi*e month.paft, :thafc 
,ray :happmtfs was as Ml and piM' as ihis world will well 
admit of.' Bleft with a found ^oriiUtajtion, with flowing 
4>rofperii:y^ .with one of the deareft> and bed df wkes*, a 
cheerfuhheats., arifing from peace of confidence and 3peaee 
with God, through our Lord Jefus Chrui, my children all 
well fettled and provided for, and many agreeable iriencb, 
whak could £ wifii m /desire more'? Hence, i ha&£ con- 
ceited many fears p I have>expre5ed ihem tfo ferersd spray- 
ing friends, and begged their hdp ait :the throne xrfigrace, 
Ml fuch a fuinefe mould betray me >imo pride, aintouk&J* 
nefc, arid earthly-mirulednefs. ¥oa know, Jeftuwur* wax- 
ed fat, and kicked. I was made sfenfible that I seeded 

the 

* Mi Williams, by this time,, had married ?, feccnd ttne* 



APPENDIX. 285 

the goad in my fide, nor was wholly Without expectation 
thereof. Well, oar heavenly Father is not forgetful of his 
children's belt interefts, andjwell knows how to fccure and 
defend them. Coming along ftreet, laft Lord's day even- 
ing, from the lair, meeting, as flow as I could well walk, 
the pavement being flippery with rain, one of my feet Aid- 
ed away, which, whilfl I ftrove to recover, fo as to pre- 
vent a fall, I wrenched my right ancle to a terrible degree. 
I was carried to my own houfe, and the pain was fo acute, 
I was ready to fink away for fome time. By the help of 
a fkilful furgcon, there is hope I may again have the ufe of 
the injured limb; but in the mean time, I am forced to lay 
it along in a box, night and day ; fometimes am full of 
pain, and fometimes tolerably eafy, but cannot take a ftep 
without crutches. I am the priioner of Providence, but, 
bleffed be God, I am a prifoner of hope. Really, I take 
pleafure in this painful confinment. My Father will furely 
do me good by it ; you alfo helping together therewith, 
by your prayers to GoJ for me. I efteem it an inftance of 
his paternal kindnefs and care. I enjoy this affliction, and 
by means thereof, enjoy the company of many of my dear 
praying Chriftian friends. It is a humbling providencej 
and fuch I wanted. It is the more diftrefling, becaufe my 
partner fet out on a fix weeks journey but two days before ; 
and that makes it fo much the better, becaufe fo much the 
more inftructive. The other day, my mountain flood 
ftrong ; but how foon am I troubled ! How abfolutely do 
I hold all my enjoyments dependent on the will of my Fa- 
ther ! How gracioufly hath lie limited and moderated this 
affliction ! Here might have been a broken bone, or diflo- 
cated joint. I have a thoufand times more to praife for 
than to complain of. Hereby 1 am better inftrucled to 
pity and pray for your dear partner, together with yourfeif. 
I can now more fenfibly fympathize with you than before, 
Bleffed be God for whekfome pains, for the healing rod. 

But 



286 APPENDIX. 

But I muft conclude, or be too late for this pod. May 
the Lord love and -blefs you, and caufe his face to fhine 
upon you. — We have had fome remarkable (Hrring here late- 
ly, under the minifrry of dear Mr Darracott, who made 
an exchange, for fix Lord's days, with Mr Fawcett, whilft 
he, with Mrs Fawcett, have been down at Taunton. The 
Lord carry on the good work wherever it is begun. My 

kind reflects to Mrs R 11 : I mall be glad to hear how 

it is with you. Believe me to be, dear Sir, your much 
obliged, and mod obedient humble fervant, J. W. 

Mr dear Friend, Kidder m\njlcr % Jan. 13. 1753. 

I have been expecting a line from you a good while, 
and was intending to fend a writ of inquiry after you; for, 
I can affure you, fuch letters as your's are more^gratefui'to 
me, and more elevate my ifpirits, .than letters with orders 
'for io or 20 -pieces of our manufacture. My lad J wrote 
in pain, but not unmingled ^ain. It was indeed a pLea- 
iureable pain. Bleffed be God for that vifitation. 1 was 
quickly re leafed from confinement, and have had the free 
, ufe. of . the i injured. limb this half year, though not without 
Tome merciful touches ftill, now and then, to mind me of 
iny mercies. O that I were more thankful! O that I were 
.always in a praying frame! The fame I wifn for you, my 
friend. At the worft, we have more to praife than to 
pray for; 10,000 times more to praife than to complain for. 
What can become a child of God more, than praife to bis 
heavenly Father? What can be more profitable to himfelf? 
Don't we^praife belt, when we have the deepeft fenfe of 
'Cur unworthinefs ? And don't the very exercife of praife 
naturally tend to cheriih fuch a fenfe? Does it not tend to- 
humble? Does it not imply our dependence and obligation,. 
animate faith, fan our Jove, chsriuVhope, and dirTufe cheer- 

fulaefe- 



APPENDIX, 287 

fulnefs and joy? how happy are the faints above, wh& 
aTe all praife and love! 

Well, but I did not praife enough — was not enough 
humbled. Therefore, our heavenly Father kindly took 
another rod in hand ; for he hath (tore of them, but they 
are all dtpt in love. He fmote me through the fides of 
my deareft other felf: Latter end of July, my better half 
was vifited with a putrid fever, a rum fever. She broke 
out all over with the rufti; was confined 7 or 8 weeks. 
Her life was in jeopardy. She was preffed beyond mea- 
flire, above ftrength, fo that fhe had the fentence of death 
in herfelf ; and I was called up one morning at two to take 
my leave of her. But the Lord had mercy on her, and 
on me alfo, left I mould have fbrrow upon forrow. When, 
after a revival, the preffare on her fpirits returned, fo that me 
mourned like a dove, that fhe could not die, and yet fhe 
could not live, I called in fome praying friends: The firft 
prayed with great affection and importunity; the fecond 
exceeded, and would have no nay, but relief mufi: be fent 
now, immediately. My faith was much animated; and when 
he ceafed, and I had engaged a third, I ftepped into her 
apartment, to fee how it was with her, and, to my joyful fur- 
prize, found her fitting up in the bed, wonderfully relieved, the 
burden fallen off, cheerful and thankful. So I went back, and 
concluded the fervice with praife to him, who,whilft we were 
calling, heard, and before we had done fpeaking, anfwered. 

This occafions me to tell you, that at this very time 
that friend who prayed fecond lies dangeroufly ill of a 
putrid fever. Certainly you heard me feveral times tell 
of Mr Symonds, an apothecary^ fuch another good man, 
for whom the Apoftle fuppofes, peradventure fome would 
even dare to die* a man of fuch unwearied diligence ibr 
both worlds, efpecially the upper better world, that we 
hare no manMike- minded; and I really queftion, whether 
you can find his equal in the united kingdoms: up in the 

morning 



288 APPENDIX. 

morning at five, feldom in bed till after midnight, upon his 
knees three or four times every day; though a drier. Cal- 
vinift, full of good works, as if he thought to merit hea- 
ven; mortified to the world as any hermit, and yet diligent 
in bufinefs, as though he were moft covetous. This good 
man began to be ill more than a fortnight fince, but would 
not remit of his diligence till Saturday laft, that he was for- 
ced to fubmit. Since that, he hath been clofely confined, 
afrd, the lafl: ^ve days, to his bed. The Doctor judges his 
cafe much worfe than my wife's. Monday, he was ex- 
tremely low. Tuefday, we fpent fome hours in prayer 
in the room with him. Wednefday, a little revived. 
That evening, Mr Fawcett gave us a fermen in public, (as 
ufual the firft Wednefday after the facrament,) from thefe 
words, Lord, behold he whom thou Lvejl isfick* Then, 
after praying for him with great enlargement, Thurfday 
being our market-day, he invited as many as were willing, 
to meet at 2 o'clock on Friday to pray for Mr Symonds. 
Accordingly, yefterday, a large aiTembly met, and four 
prayed, and three fuitable hymns were fung; and then Mr 
Fawcett concluded with prayer. Is not this the right way ? 
BleiTed be God, to-day he is much better. He is about 
51, and the eldeit of his five amiable children about 21. 
His eldeftfon, about 14, (converted about four years ago, 
when his father was more dangeroufly ill, and for whom 
there were then 8 or 9 meetings for prayer,) is bringing up 
with a view to the mini (try. He lies full of divine confo- 
Jations, at a point whether to live or die. 

I agree with you, we ihould never be anxious, either for 
a chaftifement, or a comfort, only in every thing, by prayer 
and fupplication, &c. we may fecurely leave all to the great, 
the all-wife Difpofer. We have here been under uneafy 
apprehenfions of an oppofition to Mr Fawcett feveral years. 
Scarce a tenth part of the congregration difreliih him, but 

many of thefe are rich, and Mr B hath all along been 

at 






APPENDIX. 289 

at the head of the oppofition. In the night of the 10th 
part, about midnight, he died fuddenly, without a ftruggle 
or a groan, and our fears in a great meafure died with him. 
As you obferve, whether (hould we mod admire the depths 
of the Divine mercy, judgment, or prudence? 

I thank you for your fellow-feeling, both of my pain and 
my joy. I have not been, nor am, wholly infenfible, either 

of dear Mrs R IPs fore affliction or yours, and have 

often had freedom to intercede on your behalf. I have 
a cheerful hope, that both flie and you will be armed with 
patience, and that it (hall turn to your mutual benefit, which 
is better than the removal of the affliction. I doubt not 
you have long fince adopted the language of the prophet, 
Jer. x. 19. Woe is me for my hurt, my wound is grievous ; 
but I faid, truly this is a grief, and I mufl bear it, 

I very much approve your repeated propofal for forming 
pious youth to the miniftry. Academies are, as they are 
managed, ferviceable or diflerviceabie. I don't think even 
Dr Doddridge's was ftricHy enough governed. Youth, I 
think, whilit there, mould, as the Apoflle fpeaks of the 
heir, differ little or nothing from fervants, and be under 
ftricl reftraint ; whereas, I fear, they have differed too 
little from gentlemen. It is certain, many under his tui- 
tion have run into the fcheme of the Remonftrants, and 
fome into licentious practices. Thefe confequences would 
be prevented in the method you propofe. But I am afraid, 
few of the moil pious, either of our diflenting minifters or 
people, will readily fall in with it. Mr Pike of London 
hath fet on foot fomething of that nature ; but it feems to 
be defpifed and laughed at. There is a too prevailing 
averfion, even among the pious, to laymen, (thofe who 
have not had a liberal education,) miniftering in holy things; 
and what can be expected from -others? However, I intend 
to recommend it to the perfons you have named. I of- 
fered myfelf to the work above 20 years ago, and feveral 
• Bb eld 



2Q0 ^ A P ? E S D I it, 

old pious minifters encouraged the thing; but it was gene- 
tally frowned upon, and treated with difdain. Even my 
own minifter, a pious man, when I called praying friends 
together, to afk counfel of God, would not vouchfafe fo 
far to countenance the thing as to appear among us, God 
will do his own work,' and fend his own instruments. 

Dr Doddridge's place in the academy is filled up, partly 
by Mr Lavington at St Mary Ottery in Devonshire, a rigid 
Calvinift, and a very pious man ; and partly by Mr Am- 
•warth, who? for that intent, hath lately erected a large 
building at Daventry, who feems a truly pious man alio, 
and net antUCalviniftical. I think I muft conclude my 
letter with Dr Doddridge's fwan-like fong, lately come to 
my hands, which, it is faid, he compofed, and oft with 
_p!eafure repeated, on his death-bed. 

Whilft on the verge of life I iiand 3 
And view the fcene on either hand, 
My fpirit ftr aggies with its clay, 
And longs to wing its flight away. 

Where Jesus dwells, my foul would be; 
It faints my mach^lov'd Lord to fee. 
Earth twine no more about my heart. 
For 'tis far better to depart. 

Come, ye angelic envoys come, 
And lead the willing pilgrim home ; 
You know the way to Jesxj's throne? 
Source of my joys, and of your own. 

That bleffed interview! how fweet, 
To fall tranfported at his feet ! 
Rais'd in his arms to view his face 
Through the full beamings of his grace. 

To view Heav'ns (Tuning couriers round, 
Each with immortal glories crown'd; 

And 



APPENDIX. 29 l 

And whilft his form in each I trace, 
Belov'd, and loving, all t y embrace 

As with a feraph's voice, to fing ; 
To fly, as on a cherub's wing ; 
Performing with unweary'd hands, 
A perfect Saviour's high commands. 

Yet, with this profpect full in fight, 
I wait his fignal for my flight; 
For 'tis a heav'n begun, to know, 
To- love and ferve my Lord below. 

I returned, in health and. f$ety, the 2£th of November, 
from a fix weeks journey, in which I had great experience 
of the provide^' :ij care and k^ndnefs of our heavenly Fa- 
ther, having tjee refcued frpm two threatening dangers* 
preferved in : health through all the journey, and 

had deligh.Tu interviews with my children, both at the 
Iile o£ Wight and at London. And now, dear Sir, fare- 
well in ine Lord ; may you be receiving, from time to 
time, large fupplies of the Spirit, fpending and being fpent 
hi his fervice, and bringing many ions and daughters unto 
glory. May the Lord love you and blefs you abundantly. 
My bed: refpects to your dear partrer. My dear Theo- 
dofia, though unknown, would falute you both in the 
Lord. I em, Id great Cncerity., dear Sir, your loving fym> 
pathizing friend, and ycur ready humble fervant, j. W« 

©-o-© 

Very bear Sir> KhUerminfler r April 21. 1753* 

Out of tli e abundance of the heart, the mouth fpeaks* 
\ can't forbear telling you, that part of the two laft days 
has been employed in reading over the life of Dean Pri- 
deaux, author of the Connection of the Old and New Tef- 
tament, It is a fociety book, and came to me, together 
B b z witth 



%2 APPENDIX. 

with Fordyce's Art of Preaching. The latter I intended 
to perufe : to the former, I thought I mould vouchfafe no 
more than a curfory view ; and yet it has fo fallen out, 
that I have perufed the former before I have read a page 
of the latter. What induced me to do fo, I can fcarcely 
tell ; but it feems. to me, that no book has done me fo 
much good a great while. Perhaps you may be ready to 
wonder what great good fuch a life can do me: Here is 
deep erudition, zeal for external reformation in the univer- 
£cy. a moil fcrupulous exaclnefs in fettling and dividing 
the temporalities belonging to the cathedral, ftrenuous zeal 
atsjoft, popery, and really a becoming zeal for reform- 
ing the lives and manners of the clergy, as alfo for pro- 
pagating Chriflian knowledge in the Eaft Indies ; a mod 
critical knowledge of the hiftorical part of the Bible ; 
and, together with all this, there appears in his writings a 
deep penetration, great (Length of reafon, exaclnefs of 
judgment, a large compafs of thought, and, in fhort, every 
thing I could wife or expert to fee in a gentleman, a 
fchohr. or even a divine, except the one thing needful. 
Perhaps the defect might lie in the biographer ; but fo it 
is, though I read every line in the book, confiding of 280 
pages, I can 2nd nothing in the accounts of the Dean's 
life, or death, or in his writings, (which make up about 
cne half of the books that has the lead favour of experi- 
mental religion, or carries any evidence that he knew any 
more of the new birth than Nicodemus. I don't much 
wonder at it. It is no more than a fulfilling of the Scrip- 
ture : Such things are hid from the wife and prudent : 
and not many wife men after the flefh, SsV. are called : 
but indeed I wander at the riches of that grace of God 
by which X am what I am, I have not felt fuch workings 
of humble thankfulnefs to God, for his fpecial diftinguifli- 
ing grace, a great while. And it has led me alfo to won- 
der at my ftupidity and ingratitude and thoughtlefs infen- 

Ability 



APPE K DrJK 203 

fjbility, at fo lich a vouchfafement. I remember, a pri- 
vate, Chriftian, of diftinguifhing eminency, told me, with 
an air of uncommon folemnity, aimoft 40 years ago, that 
nothing tends more to grieve the Holy Spirit, and caufe 
him to withdraw, than the unthankfulnefs of Chriftians 
for his fpecial, renewing, fanctifying grace. G for a more 
thankful fenfe of this his everlafting love ! How mould it 
command all my powers, and fubjecr. every thought 1 Is it 
not the new fong of Heaven, Thou wajl Jlain, and haft 
redeemed us to God by thy own blood P and fhall we not be- 
gin to fing, here upon earth, unto him that loved us* &c. 

Good Mr Symonds, betwixt whofe life and death the 
balance was fwaying when I wrote you laft, and for fome 
weeks after, fometimes preponderating to the right, and 
fometimes to the left, and for whom prayer was made 
without ceafing of the church unto God, is again, to a 
miracle, reftored to his ufefulnefs, and fo are many other va- 
luable friends, fince I wrote you laft. It was a feafon of 
much ficknefs here, many months, by the prevalence of a 
putrid fever. Scarce a week, from Chrifimas till the mid- 
dle of February, (and longer than that, as I have been in- 
formed,) in which a number of praying friends, often fix 
or feven, befides others who joined, were called together, 
to intercede with God for fome important life, then in 
jeopardy. A remarkable fpirit of grace and fupplication 
was poured out;- great freedom of accefs, and boldnefs? 
and enlargement ; and in feveral inftances, even whilft we 
were calling, the Lord heard, and the patient was wonder- 
fully revived before we rofe from our knees : nor was a 
fingle life denied us, among fix or feven, for whom united 
interctiiion was made. And it is worth obfervation, that 
whereas the Lord was determined to take away a defin- 
able young man, the eldeft fon in one of our bed families, 
whofe father is my near kinfman, and very particular 
friend,- he would not fuffer us to meet to pray for him, 
B b 3 The- 



294 APPENDIX. 

The young man was confined a fortnight by a flow kvcr> 
and no danger apprehended, till Lore's day ever.::*:. His 
parents had agreed to call us together next iniiiili|i ; nut 
he was (hatched away about four o'clock, befcre any of 
us were up. For thefe thing? (bail artery one that is godly 
make his prayer unto thee. What honour hath the Lord 
bedewed on (cz : .^ y-ayer i And vet we can't expect that 
it fhs.ll be always fo. 

I would aik dear Mrs R 11, as Dr Watts does, 

Whence, then, mould doubts and fears a 
"Why trickling forrows drown our eves I 

The anfwer is obvious : Not becaufe there is not fufneient 
proviuon made in the everlasting covenant • but. as he an« 
fwers in the next lines, 

Slow!)*, alas! our mind receives 
The comfort that our Maker gives. 

The apoftle fays, But I would hare you without car efulnef: ; 
and he certainly fpoke the mind of Chriit. Chriil weald 
have every difciple of his Without carefhlneS, without 
anxiety; and this as to tpiritaah as well as temporals; 
He would have us call all our care: upon him, becaufe he 
careth for us. And, as Dr Watts Gogs, 

His arm can well fuftain 

The children of his lovt : 
The ground on which our faiety Sands, 
No earthly (no, nor helli/hj power can incite. 

Believing is not doubting, nor fearing believing : The 
I deny not, that To me degrees c: ;. and fearing too, 

may iland with true faith, yet, as perfect !cve qtfletfa oof 
fo perfect faith excludes doubting. Were our own 
interefl out of the cafe, is it not pity fo tender, fo kind ft 

friend fhould be diftrufted ! Would not Mrs R U 

think herfelf difhonoured, yea pcayoked, *rd her Jove 

(ughted, 



APPENDIX, ££f 

flighted, if fhe promifed me fcmething in her power, and I 
told her to her face, I did not believe her? Has the Lord 
Jefus promifed any thing he is not able to give ? And is 
rot He witnefs to every diftruftful fear ? 

I would perfuade Mrs R 11 to confider what a pecu- 
liar advantage and opportunity is put into her hands, by 
means of this tedious confinment, this long affliction, (under 
which I fincerely pity and fympathife with her and with 
you), of doing honour to the Lord Jefus, and to the doc- 
trine which is according to godlinefs, by rejoicing in tribu- 
lation, rejoicing in Chrifl Jefus. How muft it recommend 
his good ways, when others obferve that his children and 
fervants, not only fing at their work, but under the rod 
too! Sure, they will conclude, fuch a one ferves a good 
mafter, who gives her comforts we know nothing of. Cer- 
tainly, fuch a one's religious principles, on which me builds 
all her hopes, muft be right, which can enable her to pray 
and praife with a merry heart, like Paul and Silas in the 
flocks. It is an honour to religion, and to its Author, 
when, in health, and flrength, and full profperity,. it teaches 
us to deny ungodlinefs, and worldly iufts, &c. y and, I 
think, no lefs fo, when it cheers under adverfrty, and makes 
the heart glad that otherwife would be bowed down by af- 
flictions. What a glorious figure does Kabakkuk make, 
rejoicing in the Lord, and joying in the God of his falva- 
tion, when befieged with wants 1 and this reminds me of a 
paffage I took notice of, many years ago, in Dr.Prefton 
on the Divine Attributes, to this purpofe, That if we would 
be happy, in whatfoever ftate, we muft not make too many 
things neceflary to our happinefs; and infills, that we muft 
make but one thing neceflary thereto. All other things we 
may be deprived of, but that one thing none can take away 
from us- If we fet our hearts on a hufband, a wife, a 
child, health, profperity, this or the other defirable enter- 
tainment; all thefe things are lofeable; but if we take up 

our 



2~§6 APPENDIX. 

our portion in God and Chrift, that good part none can 
take away from us. 

I well remember the time, (it is not quite 28 years fince) 
when, being in deep adverfity, and foiicitous to make my 
calling and ele&ion fure, after abundance of time (pent, 
from day to day, for the fpace of a month, in a clofe ex- 
amination of my heart and life, by two or three rules laid* 
down in Baxter's Saint's Reft, it was much impreffed on 
rny mind, to adopt that ejaculation of the Pfalmift, 7hou 
art my portion, Lord. It followed me at my worldly 
employment, and I was trying at it- forty times a-day, but 
with a daggering faith. Nevertheiefs, I went on trying 
from day to day for a week or more, till at laft I found 
my heart cheered with a fweet conlcioufncfs that He was 
indeed my portion r I defired no other, and could be hap- 
py in Him, even in the abfence of every other comfort. 
Hereupon I learned to adopt it in the confidence cf faith, 
and my foul magnified the Lord, and my fpirit rejoiced in 
God my Saviour. And it does rae good to this day, and 
ever fince, to afpire toward the Lord in the fame breath, 
ing of foul. Nor has there been a day, fince the year 1 725, 
in which I could not fay, with an appropriating faith, My 
Lord> and my God, though I be nothing, and lefs than 
the lead of all his mercies.- Yours, &c. J, W. 

— — ©*®~©- 



Ref. Friend, Kidatrminfier, Feb, 25. 1754. 

I communicated your fcheme at large to your good 
brother, and my very worthy friend, Mr Darracott of 
Wellington, who fhewed it to my brother, R. Pearfall of 
Taunton; and,- laft week, I had a letter from the former, 
in which are thefe words: " I read your laft letter to your 

•-' worthy brother, who approves of Mr R- -IPs fcheme, 

* ; asd thinks it would be well for him to prim fometbing 

(i upon 



APPENDIX. 297 

¥ upon the fubject. I don't know whether we mall not edu- 
** cate Daniel on the plan. The only difficulty is his nunie- 
11 rous poor family, and decrepit wife.' 5 3 

Before I proceed, let me give you a brief hiftory of this 
Daniel, whofe furname I don't at prefent re.collect. He 
is a poor man, who works at the anvil, but in what branch 
of the iron work I know not, about one mile beyond Wel- 
lington. Twelve or fourteen years ago, he was an active 
young fellow, and one of John Bunyan's captain finners, 
being a ringleader at bull baitings, bear-baitings, and all man- 
ner of riotous practices. He feared not God, nor regarded 
man; and though his family was then but fmall, he half ftarv- 
cd them by his extravagancies. His conrtant practice, on the 
Lord's day, was to lie a bed all the morning, and after din- 
ner, according as the feafon and the weather was, either 
go and lie upon the bed, or under fome hedge, but went 
to no church whatever. One Lord's day in fummtr, per- 
haps ten years ago, having filled his belly, he laid himfelf 
down on a bank in his own garden : but his couch being 
fome what uneafy to him, he turned him on his back to the 
other fide ; in doing which, taking in, though undefign- 
edly, a glance of the bright canopy of the fky, a thought, 
fudden as a flam of lightning, and doubtlefs as ftrong, dart- 
ed into his mind and conference, that God from above faw 
him, and faw all the wickednefs of his heart and practice. 
This made him reftlefs, fo that by and by he turned him- 
felf back again, and took another glance, which wounded 
him afrefh with fuch another dart, fharpened his reflections, 
and made him more reftlefs. Fain he would have fmo- 
thered his convictions, but could not; neither could he reft 
nor lie flill. Up he got, ftung with horror and remorfe, 
and knew not for a time how to difpofe of himfelf. At 
that very time, he heard the bell toll to church, and, in 
hopes to get a little prefent eafe, determined to go thither. 
As he came out of the garden^ he called to his wife, 

« Wife, 



298 APPENDIX. 

" Wife, I am going to church." w Ay," (he rep. 
" what go to church for ?" He made no reply, but went 
to church. There he was very uneafy, and found no re- 
lief. All that v/eek, he was like poor Chriftian, in the 
beginning of the Piigvi n-5 Progrefs, particularly when he was 
got under mount Sinai, and his burden at the heavieft. He 
had heard of Mr Dan acott, the prefbyterian parfon, and 
of fome extraordinary effecls of his miniftry upon the lives 
of fome who had been almoft as bad as himfelf. He there- 
fore came to a refolution, next Sabbath, to go and hear 
him; and this gave him a little mitigation of his pain. 
When meeting time came, he was ready; but, impudent 
as he had been in finning* was afnamed to be feen go into 
a meeting-houfe. At lair, after many a druggie, he mix- 
ed himfelf with a knot of poor men, who ftood talking to- 
gether before the houfe, and flipped in with them. There 
it pleafed God to inflame the wound, and then apply the^ 
balm of Gilmd. He (tuck clofe to Mr Darracoti from 
that time, and his profiting appeared to all. The fir ft time 
I faw him was in the year 17^6, when his paftor, know- 
ing beforehand of my coming, had invited him, and three 
or four more lively Chriftians, to fpend an evening with 
me. We fpent fome hours in finging and prayer, Daniel 
being appointed to conclude the fervice, which he did with 
all the marks of undiffembled piety, diftinguifhing humility, 
and indeed an uncommon fluency, as well as fervency, fo 
that I was more taken with liim than with any other. As 
much had been forgiven him, fo he loved much ; and after 
having continued conftant in prayer many years, and that 
not only in his own family and clofe t, but upon every other 
occafion, <u\%. if any neighbour or friend were fjck, or under 
lively impreffions or awakenings, or the like, at laft he found 
himfelf ftrongly inclined to endeavour to do good to the 
fouls of fuch, by giving them a word of exhortation in 
private koufes. At ibis, many were offended, at the fame 

time. 



A P P E N D I X. 299 

*6me that numbers were pleafed and edified. Mr Darra- 
cott, at firit, knowing his fincerity and good abilities, did 
not diffcourage him ; but after a while, fearing what confe- 
rences might enfue, wrote to me, fcarce a twelvemonth ago, 
and, imagining that a word from me would have consider- 
able weight with him, defired me to write to Daniel, and 
to difcourage his proceeding, and, to inftigate me the more 
thereto, inclofed roe a letter from my brother Pearfall, in 
which he had downright difcouraged the thing. After 
looking up to God, I fet pen to paper, but found I could , 
not abfolutely difcourage him. All I could do was, to 
lay down premifcs, or conditions, of which he himfelf was 
to be fole judge, and advife him, if he were confcious of 
fuch and fuch, then to go on in God's name, and fear no 
difcouragement or opposition ; but if otherwife, then to de- 
fi(\. This I inclofed to my friend Darracott, unfealed, 
that he might either deliver or fupprefs it, according as he 
approved or difapproved it. He delivered it ; and it 
ftrengthened Daniel's hands, and from time to time, Mr 
Darracott has wrote me, that Daniel goes on bravely. He 
owns to me, in his laft of the 13th inft. that he is now a 
great blefifmg, and he hopes will be greater. 

I have loft or miflaid a letter Daniel fent me, in anfwer 
to mine, which pleafed me much, and was highly fatisfac- 
tory to me. As far as I remember, it was to this effect ; 
that whilft he was working hard at his trade,, important 
texts of Scripture, were, as he imagined, clearly explained 
to him, and his thoughts were led with the greateft eafe 
into their feverai connections and divifions, together with 
the feverai inferences and conclusions deducible from them ; 
fo that he could not forbear aiking himfelf, whence and 
why is this ? Nor could he forbear thinking it might be 
profitable to others, to communicate to them fuch trains of 
reafoning and difcourfe as did frequently thus occur to 
him. Ami thus he was at firft inclined to give a word of 

exhortation, 



3C0 APPENDIX. 

exhortation, but in a private way only, and he now feems 
averfe to go out farther than he is at prefent engaged. And 
fo much for honed Daniel. 

We had formerly, before my exifting, but after Mr Bax- 
ter was ejected by the act of uniformity, one Mr Hieron 
for our vicar, a jolly facetious man, but found in the faith. 
He was going to church one Lord's day morning, when it 
was extremely cold ftormy weather, and was overtaken by 
one of his neighbours, who, fhivering, faid to him, " Its 
" very cold, Sir." " Oy," replied the parfon (full-mouth- 
ed), " God's as good as his word ftM/' The other 
flared at him, not apprehending his drift, or what he re- 
ferred to, and afked him what he meant? u Mean!" re- 
plied he, " why, He promifed, above 3000 years ago, and 
" ftill he makes his word good, that while the earth re- 
%i maineth, feed-time and harveft, and cold and heat, fiialL 
w not ceafe." So fay I* God is a prayer-hearing God . 
ftill. Within thefe fourteen months, we have been fa- 
voured here with numerous inftances thereof, two of which 
are very recent. Mrs Fawcett's life (a dear valuable wo- 
man) had been given us more than once; though we pray- 
ed and hoped againft hope, for the phyfician had given up 
all hope. About a fortnight ago, fhe was feized with * 
putrid fever, and at the fame time pleuritic. Her cafe 
was judged defperate. Mr Fawcett called together a 
number of us; and we fpent feveral hours in earned in- 
terceffion, yet with all fubmiffion. For my o\$n part, I 
had uncommon enlargement, in begging that (he might be 
cheered with divine confolations, that (he, might know 
whom fhe had believed, and in the confidence of faith her 
foul might magnify the Lord, Esfc. This was Thurfday 
evening, the 14th of January. Next morning, (he feemed 
to be dying, but revived before night. Saturday, fhe heard 
my voice, talking with Mr Fawcett in the kitchen, and 
fent her nurfe to afk me to come up to her. I went up, 

and 



APPENDIX. JOX 

and fat down by her bed-fide ; but how was my heart ra- 
vifhed to hear her tell, though in broken accents, what 
God had done for her foul! When nature feemed ready 
to expire, and (he kad cheerfully refigned her hufband, her 
children, her foul, into the hands of Chrift, fhe was filled 
with joy unfpeakable and full of glory ; and it was to her 
the pleafanteft hour fhe had ever known. She has be^n 
recovering ever fmce, 

I told you before, what oppofition has been made to our 
re-building a houfe for God, and that feveral of our weal- 
thier men withdrew their moulders from the work, and 
that we had, neverthelefs, gathered among ourfelves about 
L,.6co, befides L. ico more we had in bank. The top- 
(tone has been laid on many weeks, and the infide work is 
vigoroufly carried on, but the money was all expended ; 
and a computation being made, it appeared that we 
mould want L. 400 more to finifh it. We were loth 
to be troublefome to other churches, and determined to 
call together all the principal fubfcribers, all that had fub- 
f:ribed more than 40 s. and try how much more we could 
raife among ourfelves ; but firft to feek the Lord by pray- 
er, in whofe hands are the hearts of all men. According* 
ly, after a number of us had fpent fome hours in prayer 
Uft Monday morning, about 20 or more were invited te 
nleet in the evening. Some of our friends were out of 
town, and others could not come: however, near 20 met; 
and, after Mr Fawcett had opened the occafion of our 
meeting by a fhort pertinent prayer, we animated each 0- 
ther to the work, and, in kfs than an hour, more than 
L. 240 was fubfcribed ; and a pleafure it was to fee {q 
many offer willingly. We are now going from houfe to 
houfe, and meet with no fmall encouragement, fo that the 
wall will probably be built, though in troublous times. 
I doubt not, it would have pleafed you to hear us that 
morning laying our fubftance, as well as ourfelves, at the 
* C c Divine 



3?D2 APPENDIX. 

Divine footflool, difclaiming all propriety in it, claiming 

only the office and title of his Rewards, and defiring him 
to tell us, how much of it we fhould lay out this way. I 
think fuch a fpirit and temper well worth praying for, and 
that, together with our fuccefs therein, a gracious anfwer 
to prayer. 

You'll think me a bufy man, when I have afiured you, 
that I have filled up every half hour 1 could refcue from 
more neceflary bufinefs, in writing to you, ever fince the 
date of the firft page ; and it is now the evening of March 
the 6th : And if I don't finiih it now, perhaps it may lie 
by a week longer, i have fometimes wondered to fee hi 
what a clofe fucceilion perfons have dropped in who have 
had bufinefs to tranfact with me, and which, in the ab- 
fence of my partner, who is now upon a long journey, 1 
could not commit to any other hand. It has fometimes 
been very burdenfome to me, and the more fo, becaufe I 
really think I do not love the world, nor the things of the 
world. It is a fenfe of duty which chiefly reconciles me 
to it. Six days (hall work be done. And I confider it 
as a mtrcy to have profitable bufinefs to manage, and ano- 
ther to have a capacity to manage it. One thing which 
has taken up a good deal of my time of late is a difpute, 
or conteft, betwixt two brothers-in-law, who are partners 
In trade, both of them members of our church, and both 
good men ; yet not (o good as they fhould be, nor their 
paflions yet duly mortified. Tire difpute is about meum et 
tuum ; each is certain that his claim is right and juft ; and 
yet they clafh not a little. They have fixed upon a kinf- 
man of mine and myfelf, as arbitrators in the cafe, and one 
of them hath been with me a good while this afternoon, 
and I withed him gone a good while before he went away. 
But at laft, of his own accord, he changed the fubjecl, and 
then his converfation made me amends for my time and 
trouble. There is fomething in it fo uncommon, that I 

think 



APPENDIX, 303 

think it worth relating to you, for the fake of which 1 hare 
thus introduced it. 

He fs a jolly well-looking man, not very acute, yet a 
thinking plodding man, and, by clofe attention to bufmefs, 
has far outdone many of iharper wit, and has gained a 
competent fortune. He is near 50, and yet, though he 
has fat under the found of the gofpel all his days, and has 
been Mr Fawcett's fad friend ever fince he came among 
us, and well pleafed with his niimftrations, he feems not 
to have felt the power of the word, nor to have experien- 
ced any remarkable change till laft year. It was in June 7 
as he teils me ; that he was coming from Bewdly, which is 
but two miles ; and as he rode by bim&lf, this qaeflion 
was irnpreffed on his mind with as much power as if he 
had heard a voice, faying to him, " Sinner, whether art 
" thou going r* And why wilt thou not come to the Sa- 
" floor, who (lands ready with open arms to receive 
" thee?" This imprefied his mind vaftly beyond anything 
he bad ever experienced before, and fwallowed up all hiy 
thoughts, fo that he cried out, in a perfect rapture, " Lord,, 
4i I come unto thee, and give up myfelf to thee with my 
m whole heart," All the way home, his heart was hot 
within him, full of workings of the warmed devotion; and 
when he was come home, he retired into his chambers, 
and (pent two hours in religious exercifes, praying earneflly, 
that this begun good work might not go off. Neverthelefs, 
this fervour gradually abated, and, at times, was again re- 
newed, particularly one Lord's day, whilft the Lord's 
fupper was adminiftered ; and he not then being a com- 
municant, was reading Doolittle on the Lord's Supper at 
home, the love of God was fhed abroad in his heart, and 
he felt its drawing power to fuch a degree, that he thought 
none of thofe who were at the Lord's table could enjoy 
more fenfihle communion with God than he was favoured 
with, And it was no lefs remarkable, that he had the 
C c 2 teachings* 



3 "4 APPENDIX* 

teachings of the Spirit one whole night, which held hk 
eyes waking, and brought to his mind many Scriptures h^ 
had been little converfant with. A remarkable change ap- 
pears in the man, and he hath fince been taken into the 
communion of our church with general fatisfadtion. 

But new I muft conclude. May you and I frequently 
experience fuch gales of grace. May thofe who fit under 
your minifrry, both younger and older,, experience the like. 
Then will they be your joy and crown of rejoicing. A 
Fatal (pint of /lumber feems to poffefs the body of Diflen- 
ters and their minifters too generally, though, blefTed be 
God, there are exceptions, My kinfman writes me from 
Kendal, that he heard one, !aft Lord's day, read his pray- 
er in the puipit. The little remnant mould cry mightily 
after a departing God, and not let him go. Alas ! that 
the wife virgins mould (lumber, as well as the foolifh. 

My kind refpecb to Mrs R 11. Let me hear from 

you again foon. Your letters are always profitable, and 
therefore acceptable to, dear Sir, your's in the bed bonds, 

March 8. 1753,. 



Letter /<? the Rev. Richard Pearsall at Taunton, 

Mr dear and much honoured Brother, 

I think I do efteem it a greater honour to be a work- 
er together with God, in bringing home precious fouls, 
who are as fheep going aftray, to their great Shepherd and 
Bifhop, than to be the King's fon-in-law. This is an ho- 
nour the Lord has not altogether denied me. Though I 
cannot fay, He has made me the instrument of converting 
one foul, I truft He has made my poor endeavours foms 
way ferviceable, in • connection with more excellent la- 
bours, towards the converfion of feven young ones in my 

owa 



k ? f E N D I X. -305" 

own family, within thefe few years. I have the joy to fee 
all my children walking, I truft, in the truth, and fervants 
ferving the Lord Chrift. 

But alas! I have been a very unprofitable fervant. Ma* 
ny talents have been put into my hands for improvement, 
and ftill more and more talents, and yet I have not a 
heart nor zeal to improve them as I ought. I am fenfible 
many b T ame my two great forwardnefs, and too much zeal 
about the affairs of religion : but my own confcience tells 
me it is too little, and that I am too apt to hide my talent . 
in a napkin. 

Oh, pray for me, that God would mow me what hor 
would have me to do, and give me courage, refolution, 
and unwearied diligence to do it. And yet, to the praife 
of his rich, free, glorious grace, be it fpoken, he is exceed- 
ing kind and gracious, and ever indulgent to me. I may 
truly fay, as you do, " I know none he has beftowed 
" greater favours upon, and I know none that have flight* 
" ed them more than myfelf/' 

To look over the various fcenes of His providence, and 
the methods of His grace, for forty years part, towards 
a poor, worthlefs, finful worm, is quite amazing, andfhows 
me to myfelf a monfter of ingratitude. What a gay*- 
giddy, unthinking creature was I! prone to all manner of 
vanity, and averfe to every thing of a ferious religious na- 
ture ; though I had a religious education, and had re^ 
ligious principles early and diligently inftilled into me. 

But how rich and adorable was that grace, which faw 
me labouring to break afunder the bonds of education, and 
making provifion for the flefh to- fulfil the lufts thereof^ 
(aw me, and pitied me; and fometimes by a threatening, 
providence; fometimes by a feafonable word of counfeJ, 
caution, or reproof from a pious parent or friend; fome- 
times by a routing fermon; at other times, by the reafon- 
ings and reflections of my own mind, when folitaryi 
C c 3- and 



3o6 appendix; 

and once or twice by a reproof from a p!ay«fellov/, much 
more wicked than myfelf, who would afk me, Whe- 
ther my father, (who was a remarkable grave and pious 
man,) taught me this or that, which he either faw or heard 
in me? I fay by thefe, and a much greater variety of me- 
thods, the Lord often checked, controuled, reftrained my 
eager career in fin and vanity, and made me think ferioufly 
of my immortal interefts and everlafting concerns. Well 
do I remember the times and places, when taking a folitary 
walk, almoft forty years ago, and converfing with myfelf 
about prefent and future things, I had fuch an affecting 
fenfe given me, of the emptinefs and infufficiency of all 
created comforts, and the vaft importance of invisible 
realities, that it fwallowed up all my thoughts, all my foul; 
made me for the prefent quite dead to every thing here 
below, fixed my refolution, whatever became of me here., 
to make the immortal crown the object of my main pur- 
suit ; and caufed me one time under a rick, another time 
behind a buttrefs of the fteeple, under a J bum, or into a- 
hedge corner, to pour out my foul, with ftrong cries and 
floods of tears, to Him that fees in fecret, that he would 
fave me from the fins and follies of giddy youth, draw me 
to Chrifl:, and give me an inheritance among them that are 
fanctified, through faith that is in Chrift Jefus. 

Well I remember the morning, (it was a Lord's day 
morning,) fome time after this, when awaking pretty early 
in fummer times and reflecting with bitternefs on my in- 
eonftancy in religion, and the unevennefs of my walk, it 
was flrongly and fuddenly impreffed on my mind, to rife 
and put the grand important concern out of doubt. Ac- 
cordingly I arofe, my heart was hot within me. All the 
while I was dreffmg, I refolved to be the Lord's : I 
bowed my knees before the God and Father of our Lord 
Jefus Chrift, and made a folemn dedication of myfelf, foul 
and body, with ail that I have and am ; to God the Fa- 



APPENDIX. 5C^ 

ther, Son, and Holy Ghoft ; and begged his divine aid to 
confirm my refolution. I rofe from my knees, made a 
new book, and wrote down, as the Lord was pleafed to 
enable me, my folemn covenant with God, my renuncia- 
tion of every fin and luft, the dedication of myfelf to his 
fervice, and refolution through grace to be the .Lord's, on 
his own terms. I then determined to call myfelf to an 
account every evening, how the feveral parts of the day 
had been fpent, and the feveral duties of it performed, and 
to record what obfervations I made. Thenceforward I was 
filled with fuch a reverential awe of the Divine Majefty, 
as in fecret prayer fwallowed up all my thoughts; fo that I 
have hardly been confciaus of a wandering thought, while 
I have been praying a quarter of an hour or more. 

Thus did my gracious God and Father reftrain and 
guide my giddy youth : And whereas I felt but little com- 
paratively of my abfolute need of a Saviour, but trufled too 
much in my early piety, and the fenfible and vifible change 
in my heart and life, the goodnefs of my frame, Zffc. §?&• 
he took occafioa by degrees, from my many falls and back- 
flidings, to lead me to Chrifr, and to truft in him alone for 
falvation, and every thing preparatory to it. - 

My hopes and fears, after this, prevailed by turns for 
many years, though generally hope had the afcendency. 
For now and then the Lord was pleafed to lift up the light 
of his countenance upon me, and give me peace and joy in 
believing; and one time, about the year 17 18, this con- 
tinued with little interruption, by the fpace of a month or 
more. 

But in the year 1724, having been married then many 
years, and the Lord having bleffed me with confiderable 
increafe from a fmall beginning, covetoufnefs began to pre* 
vail. I was aware of it, and not wholly infenfible of the 
danger; and yet fuch was the fweetnefs of gain, that I ob- 

ferved 



30S APPENDIX* 

ferved my firft and laft; thoughts were apt to run very much 
upon jit. 

One Lord's day afternoon, after the fecond meeting, 
having been reading in a very fearchkig book, a Treatife 
of the Affections, by one Mr Fenner, I was led to a clofe 
examination of myfelf. I was willing to be tried to the 
bottom ; but the more I compared my heart and life with 
the rules laid down, and the more I drew conclufions, the 
more reafon I faw to fear I was but an almoft Chriftian. 
I went on, neverthelefs ; and at laft my confeience convin- 
ced me that I was but an hypocrite, and I was filled with 
dreadful fears, that all I had done in religion had been 
done in hypocrify, and that all my comforts had been de- 
lufions of Satan. I had now been a communicant for 13 
years; and I concluded, if, after all, I had been a hypocrite, 
a hypocrite I fhould live and die. 

Oh, what a eonfternation did it put me into ! my fjefh 
trembled for fear of God, and I was afraid of his judg- 
ments. 

Having occafion to come down flairs, walking through 
the kitchen, my dear and pious wife, when I returned, ob- 
ferving my countenance changed, followed me into the 
place of my retirement,, and with penfive looks, " My 
dear," (fhe afked,) " what is the matter ?" My heart was 
£b fwollen. with grief and anxiety, I could not anfwer a 
word, but begged of her to leave me to myfelf. She was 
not to be fo put off, but, in the moft endearing, yet pref- 
fing manner, urged me to tell her what was my grief? 
My heart was ready to burft : I would fain have been e&» 
cufed from publifhing even to her my fhame. 

But when fhe would by no means be fatisfied, without 
knowing what had altered me fo, I gave vent to my for- 
row, and owned to her, I was afraid I was an hypocrite. 
She, poor heart, thereupon faid air fhe could to comfort 
me 1 told me of many good marks of fincerity fhe had ob. 

ferved 



APPENDIX. 5C9 

fcrved in me, and fome even of late : but it was all ns- 
lg to me ; the heart knoweth its own bitternefs : and with 
a heavy heart I went at five o'clock to the hit meeting. 

Good Mr Spilfbury, who has been in heaven thefe twenty 
years, ufed to expound fome portion of Scripture in the 
evening. He knew not of my cafe, but the Lord had di- 
rected him to a t>affa^e, the mod fuitable of anv in the 
whole bock of God. He expounded the hit verfes of the 
57 th chap, of Ifaiah. "While he was reading thenrit verfe, 
For we 'iniquity of his covetcvfnefs, I was wroth, and J mote 
him; I hid me, and was wroth; and he went on frowardly in 
the wry of his heart. Oh ! thought I, this is for me; this is 
my very cafe. He went on, I have feen his ways, and will 
him ; I will lead him aJfb, and rejlore comforts unto him, 
and to his mourners. Oh! thought I, there is help; ther-e 
is yet hope. I ate tfp all his words as they fell from his fips. 
I perfectly hung upon his lips, through the whole ofthefer- 
rr.cn. He arraigned me, he condemned me, and then he 
loried me. I came home cheered ; my fpirit was greatly 
refreshed. I could fay with Jeremiah, Thy words were 
found, and I did eat them, and thy word was unto me the 
j:y and rejoicing of my heart. After this, I went on comfort- 
ably for a while, but not without fome mixture of fear. The 
next fpring, having accuftomed myfelf to devote the firft 
hour of every day, to reading, meditation, and prayer, and 
being then upon Mr Baxter's Saints Everlafting Red, when 
I canie to that part, where he gives particular directions 
in the work of felf-examination: Now, thought I, will I give 
diligence, to make my calling and election fure. He ad- 
vifes us, in this important work, in order to difcern the 
truth of our ftate Godward, not to multiply marks, but to 
clear up thefe two points: — Have I, in my practical judg. 
meat, chofen God for my portion? and then, Have I, m 
my practical judgment, chofen Cbriit for my Saviour ? 
b 'his matter^ I took abundance of pain* from morning 

to 



310 APPENDIX. 

to morning; fearching and fifting both my heart and life, 
and begging earneftly that God would fearch and try me, 
and difcover me to myfelf; and this for feveral weeks. 
Still my foul hung in doubt; fometimes hope, and fome- 
times fear prevailed. But hope had generally the afcend- 
ency : and I am convinced more and more, that though it 
be every Chriflian's duty, to give diligence to make his cal- 
ling and election fure, it is not in his power to accomphih 
it. It is God alone can give us, on the behalf of Chrift, 
to believe ; as well as it is he alone can give us to fuller for 
his fake. 

Well, when the Lord had convinced me I could not do 
it, with all my diligence and labour, (but he will have us 
to labour for it), he took the matter in hand himfelf, and 
did it for me prefently in his own way. He brought me 
into the wildernefs, and there he fpake comfortably unto 
rne. He brought me into fudden and deep adverfity; fo 
that whereas I had begun the world with little more than 
™ , and in five or fix years, had gained twice that fum, he, 
at one uFGke* took away one-third from me, and at another 
ftroke, three months after, another. The itock I had to be- 
gin with, ftill remained with me; but I began to think, as in 
Job^s cafe, ail was gone? and, which was the mod humbling 
trial of all, my character was feverely cenfured, and my good 
name, though very unjuftly, trampled in the dirt. I had 
now no refuge but the Rock of Ages ; I could appeal to him, 
with humble confidence; I fought him more than ever ; I 
redeemed time every evening for folemn meditation, to con- 
verfe with God and my own foul. He did not fail to meet 
me. He, who joined himfelf to the travellers going to 
Emmaus, did not withhold his prefence from m poor fufFer- 
ing worm. It is pleafant full, at the difiance of twenty- 
two years, to furvey the private walks I then took in the 
twilight, and one particular hedge, under which I had 
Eiany fweet tokens of his prefence* By this time, my joy 

wai 



APPENDIX. $11 

Vvas fuch as a ftrarger intermeddleth not with. I had loft 
two-thirds of the little I had poiTefTed, but I had found the 
pearl of ineftimable price. My heart was dead to the world, 
(and, blefled be his name, it has been fo, in a great mea- 
fure, ever fince', and I could no longer doubt whether 
trod was my portion ; for I found enough in him to fill 
alltny wifhes, and fatisfy all my defires. I found I could 
enjoy all in God, though I were dripped of all. Oh, how 
good, how kind was he to finful duft andafhes! He might 
have juftly withheld his pretence, left me to ftruggle with 
rny difficulties alone, and have abandoned me to contempt 
and defpair. But as a father pitieth his children, fo the 
Lord pitieth them that fear him : He gave me beauty for 
afhes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praife 
for the fpirit of heavinefs. To this day, I always reflect 
on that humbling feafon with pleafare and praife. 

And having cured me of covetoufnefs, the next year he 
more than made up all my loffes ; and ever fince he has 
given me prefperity enough, and has given me to enjoy 
him in all. 

For ever bleffed and adored and loved be his name, for 
what he has done for a worthlefs unprofitable fervant, and 
is (till doing. He has called me fince that, to encounter 
greater trials; but he is always before-hand with the gifts 
of his bounty, and the tokens of his love \ fo that I could 
pretty well conjecture, when any fharp trial was coming, 
by the fweet manifeftations he firft made of his love to my 
foul. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his 
name together ! J. W. 

(§HP«"S 

Letter to the Rev. Mr Walker at Truro. 
My dear FriexD) 

Mr D hath kindly imparted to me what he hath 

heard concerning you, and will needs engage me to write 

to 



312 APPENDIX. 

to you I am an old man: in man's account, a diffenter; 
in God's, I truft, a Chriftian. I am alfo a trade fm an of 
no fmall account in this town and neighbourhood. I truft 
my more beloved, becaufe mod: gainful trade and traffic, 
lies in a far country. 

Grace unknown, though not unfelt, put me into this 
way of trafficking forty-four or forty-five years ago. I was 
then inclined to feek goodly pearls, and having, in the 
bloom of youth, found one pearl of great price, to fell all 
and buy it. 

Finding the trade as delightful as gainful, and fo co- 
pious that there was room for as many as would to get an 
immenfe eftate, without in the leaft rivalling, but rather 
benefiting each other by joint contracts, I thought to have 
engaged all the youth of my then acquaintance in the fame, 
and fet myfelf, both by word and writing, to perfuade them 
thereto, but all to little purpofe. 

The traffic I propofed to them was, that of merchant* 
venturers, and in things future and invifibte; to which they 
generally preferred a poor low retail trade in things prefent 
2nd vifible. This no whit difcouraged me. 

My traffic lay in the country beyond Jordan, and my 
chief correfpondence was with the King of Zion, a good 
friend to merchantmen, who condefcended to traffic with 
me, furnifhed me with the flock, made me many valuable 
remittances, and hath firmly allured me of an infinitely 
greater and better inheritance, richer than both Indies, to 
which I am to fail and take pofleffion of, as foon as I ihall 
be ready for it, and our mutual intereft will be thereby bed 
promoted. And I have fo high an opinion of Zion's 
King, and can fo firmly rely on his prcmifes, that I look 
upon my faid pofTeiTion as a done thing ; for indeed he 
rTath confirmed his promHes by many undeniable precious 
pkdges : And therefore, (although I muft own my heart 
hath been fometimes drawn away quite too much and too 

often 



A'PPENDIa, 313 

often to the forfaid pitiful beggarly trade in things prefers 
and vifible), fny principal traffic, I truft, hath been, and 
fHlHs, with the King of Zion. 

Indeed, I have a vail veneration for Him, though un- 
feen; and, fure I am, I have a moil endeared affection for 
all the merchantmen, of whatever name, who traffic the 
fame way. 

I have been informed, Sir,' that you are a great traffic^ 
ker, though not of many years (landing, with my Prince ; 
and have engaged many, and are (ludious of engaging all 
you can, to caft in their lot with you : to you, therefore, 
dear Sir, I heartily fay, God/peed! Have you met with 
no Algeriae rovers? They very much infefl the high feas; 
but fear them not: Zion's King is Sovereign of the (ear, 
and you are under his protection, who will not fail to pro- 
tect and reward you. 

And now, dear Sir, I think the allegory hath run its 
length. What (hall I fay to you in plain Engliih, without 
a figure? You are engaged in the bed of caufes, but you 
have thereby enraged the word of enemies. Does not 
Satan roar, fince you have firicken his kingdom ? He cer- 
tainly will roar. Therefore take to you the whole armour 
of God. 

ChriiVs gofpel hath in all ages made its way with great- 
er fuccefs by means of reproaches and perfections. God 
will caufe the wrath of men to praife him, and will re- 
train the remainder thereof;, and thus, he defeats the old 
ferpent. I doubt not but you have counted the coil *. count 
it again, and you will certainly fee reafon to count it ail 
joy to fall into divers temptations. Some little experience 
I have, had of being reviled and perfecuted, and of having 
all manner of evil faid of me falfely. for Chrift ? s fake, and 
r.ever before that had I fo well underftood the import of 
thofe promifes, Great is ycur reward in heaven — -The trial 
cf your faith ivorketh patience — The fp'trit of ghry and of 
* D d Gfd 



314 APPENDIX. 

God rejleth upon you. — May the Lord abundantly ftrength* 
en you for your work and fufferings, and all your fellow- 
helpers in the Lord. May the God of hope fill you with 
all joy and peace in believing; and may thoufands be your 
joy and crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord Jefus* 
that you have not run in vain, nor laboured in vain. 

Excufe this freedom from a ftranger ; and when you 
can fnatch an hour from more important fervice, favour 
me with a long epiftle. Here are many wreftling Jacobs, 
to whom I (hall impart what you write, who will thereby 
be encouraged to hold up their heads againft the power of 

Amalek more frequently and more fixedly. And in 

the mean time, affure yourfelf of the frequent but feeble in- 
tercefEon of your hearty well-wifher for Jefus fake, 

J. W, 



THE END, 



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catechifms, i 8mo, neat, 4d — explanation of the Ca- 
techifm, 2s 6d, and 3s 
Bofton's crook in the lot, is 2d Ditto, is 6d — view of 
this and the other world, a new ed. 3s Do iine, 3s 6d 
Cecil's friendly vifit to the houfe of mourning, ftitched 4d 

friendly advice to fervants, 1 8mo, ftitched, 4d & 6d 

Chrift b all, 2d, or is 6d per dozen 
Dick's (John) fermon before the Affociate Synod, 6d 
m effay on the infpiration of the holy fcriptures, 3s 6d 

- fermon before the Edin. MifRon. Society, in the prefs 
Darracot's Scripture marks of falvation, 4d, 6d, and 8d 
Edward's life and fermons 3s 6d & 3s — on the will, 8vo 6s 
Earle on the facrament, i8mo, is 2d; per dozen, 10s 6d 
Frafer's commentary on Ifaiah, juft publifhed, boards 5s 
Fleming's difcourfes on the rife and fall of papacy, Scc.bds, 3 s 
fall of papacy, 6d *~ rod or fword, &c. 6d — Chriftology, 7s 
Fifher's catechifm, i2mo, 2s 6d Ditto, 3s 
Flavel's whole works, 6 vol. 8vo, 2I 
Frafer's (of Brae) life and memoirs, i2mo, 3s 
Farmer on miracles, 8vo, 7s 
Guyfe's paraphrafe, 6 vol. new edit. 1 1 4s 
Hawies's effays on the doctrine, evidence, Sec. ofChti- 

ftianity, i2mo, 3s 6d — fermons, i2mo, 3s 6d 
Henry's (Philip) life, new edit, juft publimed, 4s 6d 
Hervey's meditations, a new and elegant edit, bds, 7s 
Hopkins on the millennium, i2mo, 2s 
Halyburton's great concern, i2mo, 3s — memoirs, i2mo> 2s 
Hill's 'John, of London) evangelical fermons, 6s 
Hymns for the ufe of the Tabernacles in Scotland, is 6d, 
2s, and 3s Ditto, i2mo ; 2$ 6d ? and 3s 



C ) 

Jamiefon's (Dr) alarm to Britain, i2mo, 2s 6d — remark, 

on Rowland Hill's journal, is — poem on eternity, is 
Importance of Sabbath fchools, an excellent tract for 

diftributing, 2d, or is 6d per dozen 
Letters from a father to his fon, a ftudent of divinity* 
with notes and references to Books, by Dr D — is 6d 
Leighton on Peter, and other expofitory works. 2 v. 8vo, 12s 
M'Culloch's lectures on Ifaiah, 2 vol. 8vo, bds, 12s 
M'Ewan's effays, 2s, and 2s 6d — types, 2s, and 2s 6d 
Maffillon's fermons tranflated, 3 vol. 8vo. bds, 18s 
Mafbn's (of N, York) letters on frequent communion, is 3d 
M'Laurin's ferm. on glorying in the crofs of Chrift, i2mo, 

6d, 8c 3d— on the prophecies, bds, 5s 

M'Nighfs (the late learn. Dr of Edin,) works, 6 v. bds, 61 

Newton's (John) works, 9 vol. I2mo,ihos — Cardiphonia, 

2 vol. i2mo, 7s — Olney hymns, 3s 6d— Omicron's let* 

ters and life, 3s 6d — Meffiah, 2 vol. i2mo, 7s — tracts 

and fermons, 3s 6d — token of affection, or addrefs to 

his parimioners, 3d — life, anew edit, fine, bds 2s Ditto, 

ecmmcn, is 6d — letters to a wife, 2 vol. 7s — letters to 

Captain Clunie, 2s 6d — apologia, four letters to a mini* 

fter of an independent church, 2s 

Owen on the Spirit, 3 vol. 8vo, 10s 6d— on churches, 8vo^ 

ftitched, is 8d — humble teflimony unto the goodnefs and 

feverity of God upon finful nations and churches, 8d 

— medit. on the perfon and glory of Chrift, 8vo, 63 

—on the Hebrews, 4 vol, 8vo, il 4s— death of death in 

the death of Chrift, 3s 

Otaheitean iflands, (hiftory of the) from their, firft difco- 

very to the prefent time, bds, 3s. 
Rawlin on juftincation, 12 mo, fine, 3s 
Rolling ancient hiflory, vol. ift, 6s common, or 7^ fine 
Scot's family Bible, 5 vol. 4to, plates, 5I ics Ditto, 
4 vol. no plates, 8vo, 4I ios- — fermons, 8vo, boards, 6s 
—effays, boards, 6s 
Stennet on domeftic duties, a new edit. 4s, 5s, and 6s 

perfonal religion, juft publifhed, 45, 5s, and 6s 

Serle's effays on the church, 4s 6d — remembrancer, 2s 6d 
Songs in the night, a new edition, bds, is 6d 
Swanfton's fermons and lectures on important fubjects 

juft publiflied, 3s 6d 
Vincent on the catechifm, new edit, is 6d, 2s, and 2s 6d 
Witherfpoon's fermons^ being a fupplemsntary vol. 3s 6d 



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